Cat Manzi was in an upset mood tonight at Tioga Downs, and no, he wasn’t mad. "The Catman" led the card with four winners, three of which went off at odds of 11-1 or higher.
The first came in the fourth race as the Manzi picked up the lines for Lukas Hall in the first division of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Heavy favourite Crazzycrazzy and Jim Morrill Jr. carved out incredible early speed by taking the field through fractions of :28.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2. The Catman and Lukas Hall sat third in the strung out field and was 12 lengths off at the half. Crazzycrazzy began tiring badly after the three-quarter pole and the backfield was in motion, led by Lukas Hall. Manzi cleared halfway down the lane and crossed the wire in 1:56.3 to pull off a 20-1 upset.
The win was the first lifetime win for the Kevin McDermott-trained Lukas Hall. The Conway Hall-Goddess Of War colt is co-owned by Wayne Chrebet, former wide receiver of the New York Jets, and Jeff Gural.
In the second NYSS division, Manzi found himself once again behind the lines of another longshot, Credit Fashion. Picked as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line, the bettors sent him off at 12-1 from the far outside nine-hole.
The Catman placed Credit Fashion on the front easily with a soft opening quarter of :29. From there, 9-5 second choice The Lindy Treaty tried to brush to the lead, but was thwarted and had to settle in the pocket in front of a gapping Mister Anson just before the half. The 4-5 favourite, Flyhawk El Durado, flushed Mister Anson and began working out a second over trip only to jump offstride as the horses turned down the backside. Credit Fashion easily repelled Mister Anson and opened up on the field to win in hand by four lengths in 1:57.1.
The win marked the third of the year for the Credit Winner-Whata Softie progeny, who is trained by Jim Campbell.
Manzi picked up another victory in the Fillies & Mares Miracle Mile 1 event with 13-1 upset winner Vla Faire. His fourth and final win came in the last division of the Excelsior Series with the 5-2 second choice Winbak Glory.
Upset bids were not just limited to Manzi as driver Jim Meittinis picked up three wins on the card -- two with longshots at 33-1 (Mandela Blue Chip) and 10-1 (Zoey De Vie). Leading driver Jim Marohn Jr. swept the late double.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Saturday, July 27 with a post time of 6:50 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)