Andover America flaunted his class on Saturday night at Tioga Downs by capturing the $15,000 Open Handicap Trot
.
Trainer-driver Bruce Ranger sat fourth through the mile with Andover America as Baseball Express (Howard Parker) trotted through fractions of :27.3, :56.2, and 1:25.1. Ranger moved Andover America to the outside past the three-quarter pole and quickly trotted into second. He surged by Baseball Express in the stretch and stopped the timer in 1:56.2. Baseball Express (Howard Parker) hung on for second, while The Windsurfer A (Darren Hancock) captured third.
It was the eighth win in 20 starts for the five-year-old son of Andover Hall-Armbro Array, and with the victory is now less that $2,000 away from the $200,000 plateau.
Just as Andover America captured his victory on Saturday night, all signs point to Bruce Ranger capturing the spot for Tioga Downs’ leading money-winning driver as he passed Jim Morrill Jr. for the lead on Saturday. Going into the final day (July 25), the standings are Bruce Ranger: $301,502, Jim Morrill Jr.: $296,085, and Corey Braden: $284,181.
(With files from Tioga Downs)