BJ Lorado took the $9,000 featured trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday, Aug. 18.
BJ Lorado went to the front and led to a first quarter of :28.0 and the half of :57.2. Freddie Mac moved first over and claimed the lead at the three-quarter mark of 1:25.4. The two horses then battled their way around the final turn together. BJ Lorado dug deep to reclaim the lead in the stretch and win in 1:55.0. Rose Run Rudi came up to finish second. Freddie Mac settled for third.
BJ Lorado is a four-year-old gelding by Bo W. It was his sixth win of the season and it was career victory No. 10. Trained by Marc Major for owners Diane and Michael Norcross. Andy Santeramo piloted the $9.90 winner.
Mike Merton and Jim Taggart Jr. each won three races on the night. Merton got his wins with Gifted George ($6.30), Vicki All ($9.50), and Mr Carrotts ($6.10). Taggart Jr, won with Pinstripe Pride ($13.80), Celebrity Lover ($15.80), and Master Of Puppets ($5.30).
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday, Aug. 19 with their biggest card of the year. Sunday will feature the $270,425 Empires Breeders Classic (EBC) final for three-year-old pacing fillies and the $272,025 EBC Classic Final for three-year-old colts and geldings. Also on the card is the $143,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace and the $161,000 Artiscape Open Mares Pace, as well as two divisions of the third preliminary for the Ms Versatility for Open Mares trotters. The 13-race card starts at 1 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)