Handsome Harry posted the fastest mile of the evening in the New York State Fair Stakes at Tioga Downs on Friday night
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Jim Morrill Jr. was in the sulky as he sat in third through an opening quarter of :28.1. As the field passed the three-eighth’s pole Morrill throttled Handsome Harry to the front and cut through fractions of :56.1 and 1:23.4. Morrill never lifted a line or brought out the whip and Handsome Harry paced a final quarter in L28.2 to draw clear to stop the teletimer in 1:52.1.
The three-year-old son of Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn is owned by breeders Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle, and is trained by Mark Ford. It was the eleventh win in 16 seasonal starts for Handsome Harry, who with the win increased his seasonal earnings to more than $151,000.
“He is such a professional racehorse already, he is two fingers to drive, and we were on ease through that last quarter,” said Morrill in the winner’s circle following his victory with Handsome Harry.
Morrill also captured the first division of the New York State Fair Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers, with OK Braveheart for trainer Chris Oakes. It was the seventh victory in 19 seasonal starts for the son of Bettors Delight-Color Me Beachy. OK Braveheart cut through fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.3 before sprinting away from the pocket-sitting Hay Goodlooking to stop the timer in 1:52.4.
“He’s a real nice horse, a good New York Sire Stakes horse. I would say that he is one of the top five in the state. The track has a great cushion on it tonight, you will see that this was a very nice mile tonight, this track is great for these young horses to race over,” said Morrill following his victory with OK Braveheart.
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Howard Okusko Jr. captured the middle division for three-year-old colt pacers with Diamond Stick Pin in 1:53. Capturing the divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies was Tuesdays With Mom (Peter Arrigenna) 2:00.2, and Madam Hooch (Mike Simons) 1:59.3.
Tioga Downs is celebrating its Corntastic weekend, which began on Friday, August 14 in honour of the State Fair Stakes. Everyone in attendance is able to go to the trackside apron to receive their free ear of corn all weekend long. Even Jim Morrill Jr. was able to enjoy an ear of corn in the winner’s circle following one of his three wins on the night’s 10-race card.
(Tioga Downs)