
De La Hoya Hanover produced a seasonal-best effort as he made his first trip to Tioga Downs since his rookie campaign to upset in the $20,548 Open Pace on Sunday, July 27.
He trailed the five-horse field for Jim Pantaleano as Stonebridge Reef (Tyler Miller) and Intimidation (Ridge Warren) squabbled for control, creating hot :26.2 and :53.3 fractions. They traded leads through the opening half, but Stonebridge Reef forced the white flag from his opponent and took over before three-quarters in 1:22. As they made the turn for home, Vandiemen Bluechip (Braxten Boyd) went to the front, but De La Hoya Hanover ($42.80) came flying down the lane and rolled clear by two lengths for a 1:51 victory. Vandiemen Bluechip finished second, followed by Livonjaxandqueens (Mike Merton).
De La Hoya Hanover, a four-year-old gelding by Stay Hungry-Deer Valley Miss, recorded his third win of the year in his 10th start. He is owned by Jennifer Bongiorno Stable and Barbara Bongiorno Stb LLC while being trained by Joe Bongiorno. He is now 12-for-44 lifetime with $212,563 in earnings.
Recently crowned Meadowlands Pace champion Madden Oaks returned to the track for a tightener on the card, winning the fourth-race conditioned event in 1:52. It wasn't as easy as the betting public, who sent him off at 1-9, likely would have expected, but he held off A Class Yankee down the stretch to win by a head. Regular reinsman Braxten Boyd piloted the Huntsville-Hard Eight colt to his sixth lifetime win in 12 starts for trainer Cameron Capone and owners Samir Tawil, Paul Kautz, Alexander Henn, and Nathan Fullmer. He was promoted to victory in the Meadowlands Pace on July 12 after being interfered with in the stretch. He also finished a narrow second in the North America Cup earlier this year.
Ridge Warren and Tyler Miller each drove three winners on the card. Jeff Cullipher had a training double.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday with a post time of 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)