On Wednesday, July 31, Tioga Downs held the draw for the Empire Breeders’ Classic eliminations for three-year-old New York-bred pacers.
Twelve three-year-old pacing colts were entered and were split into a pair of $12,500, six-horse eliminations which have been carded as Race 4 and 8 this Sunday afternoon.
Leading the field of six in the first elimination is Adios runner-up Vegas Vacation from the powerful Casie Coleman stable, which has listed Brian Sears to do the driving. Coming off of a second-place finish to Sunfire Blue Chip in the $450,000 Adios final, Vegas Vacation has drawn Post 6. Here is the field in post position order with drivers listed before scratch time: #1 Odds On Equuleus (John Campbell), #2 Sir Carys Z Tam (Pat Lachance), #3 Source Of Pride (Mark MacDonald), #4 Thirty Two Red (Ray Schnittker), #5 Doctor Butch (Jim Morrill Jr.) and #6 Vegas Vacation (Brian Sears).
In the second $12,500 elimination, Adios winner Sunfire Blue Chip from the Jimmy Takter stable leads a field of six pacing colts aimed towards advancing to the $257,250 final. Yannick Gingras will once again do the driving on the three-year-old son of American Ideal – Shot Togo Bluechip from Post 4. Here is the field in post position order with drivers listed before scratch time: #1 Bet The Moon (Jim Morrill Jr.), #2 Captive Audience (Randy Waples), #3 Swift As A Shadow (Jim Morrill Jr.), #4 Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras), #5 Olde Time Hockey (Jason Bartlett), #6 A Bettor World (Jim Marohn Jr.).
Nine three-year-old pacing fillies were entered for the $250,750 Empire Breeders’ Classic and all nine will move directly to the final. Entries for the Empire Breeders’ Classic for sophomore pacing fillies include: Ballineen, Bettor Think Twice, Cult Status, Give Me An Amen, JK Black Beauty, Park N Orchard, Road Bet, Shebestingin, and Social Scene.
(With files from Tioga)