The beat just goes on for Shartin N ($2.30), who maintained her dominance in the distaff pacing division with a measured 1:48.4 win in the $129,000 Artiscape on Sunday (Aug. 16) at Tioga Downs. While the defending U.S. Horse of the Year delivered capably, trotting standouts Manchego and Gimpanzee were handed defeat in the $133,000 Joie De Vie and $220,000 Crawford Farms, respectively.
Shartin N wasted no time achieving control in the $129,000 Artiscape Mares Pace, working clear of early pacesetter Stonebridge Soul (Corey Callahan) at the end of a :26.4 first quarter. After achieving the top spot, Tim Tetrick pulled the tempo back with the seven-year-old daughter of Tintin In America through a :55.1 half before flooring it on the backstretch. A :26.1 third sectional rendered the outer tier — led by Treacherous Reign (Andy McCarthy) — unable to threaten, and gave Shartin N a 1-3/4 length head start over Stonebridge Soul off the home turn. The champion kicked clear off the corner and received a couple mid-stretch reminders from Tetrick before being taken in hand at the end of her 1:48.4 triumph. Stonebridge Soul kept pace well for second at 47-1, while Tall Drink Hanover (David Miller) rallied mildly up the pegs for third.
Shartin N passed the $2.5 million mark in career earnings with her third Artiscape victory in as many tries. Jim King Jr. trains the 46-time winner for Richard Poillucci, JoAnn Looney-King and Tim Tetrick LLC.
Tetrick completed a stakes double with Guardian Angel As ($26.60), who held tough late to parry pressure from odds-on favourite Gimpanzee in the $220,000 Crawford Farms Trot. The six-year-old Archangel entire amply made amends for a late break in the John Cashman Memorial, leading through every step of a 1:50.4 mile.
Guardian Angel As seated Lindy The Great (Andy Miller) into the pocket through a blistering :26 first quarter, maintained a stout tempo through a :54.2 half, and braced for the impending threat of Gimpanzee (Brian Sears) — who advanced uncovered out of third — through the final three-eighths of the mile. On approach to the far turn, Gimpanzee had gained to within a half length of Guardian Angel As, but failed to steamroll past upon turning for home. Guardian Angel As was driven out to preserve a narrow lead to the winning post, while Gimpanzee just as narrowly held second over Crystal Fashion (Jordan Stratton), who hooked three-wide in the stretch and lunged belatedly.
Anette Lorentzon trains 25-time winner Guardian Angel As for ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. For Gimpanzee, the defeat was his first of the season in six starts.
Before Gimpanzee failed to reach the lead in the Crawford Farms, standout mare Manchego failed to convert at odds-on in the $133,000 Joie De Vie Mares Trot, giving way to Plunge Blue Chip ($10.00) in the final sixteenth of a 1:51.3 mile.
Plunge Blue Chip and driver Scott Zeron made an early push into Manchego (Dexter Dunn) on the first turn before settling into the pocket through a :26.1 quarter and drafting while in the clear through middle splits of :55.2 and 1:22.4. With three-sixteenths to go, Zeron angled Plunge Blue Chip out of the pocket, and she successfully collared Manchego in mid-stretch before evading her stablemate Felicityshagwell S (Andy Miller) by 1-1/4 lengths. Manchego was a beaten third.
Trainer Åke Svanstedt — who swept the exacta in the Joie De Vie — co-owns Plunge Blue Chip, a five-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass, with Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson.
Hen Party (Andrew McCarthy) and Pettycoat Business (Scott Zeron) each won the eliminations for the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC).
In the First EBC elimination, Hen Party ($4.50) took the lead in the stretch and held off the late charge of So Rude (Brian Sears) to win in a lifetime best of 1:50. Dragon Roll (Dexter Dunn) finished third. They all qualified for next weeks EBC Final along with Gallaria Gal (Matt Kakaley) and JK Finendandy (Tim Tetrick).
Hen Party is a three-year-old filly by Roll With Joe. It was her fourth win this season and seventh career victory. She is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Tony Alagna.
Pettycoat Business ($3.50) breezed to an easy win in the second division. She took control just before the half and never looked back, winning in a lifetime best of 1:52. Moaning Lisa (Dexter Dunn) was second. Discofordollar (David Miller) finished third and Turnthefrownaround (Corey Callahan) was fourth. They all qualified for the EBC final with Eye Popping (Tim Tetrick) being named as also eligible.
Pettycoat Business is a three-year-old filly by Art Major. She is trained by Brian Brown for owners Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo, RBH Ventures Inc., and Gillbilly Stables. She is now two for five in her career.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (Aug. 22) with a post time of 3:00 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from Tioga Downs)