Trainer Julie Miller swept both $54,500 New York Sire Stakes events for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings as part of a Sunday (August 21) afternoon grand slam at Tioga Downs.
Devious Man ($3.10) proved most impressive among two-year-old trotters to negotiate sloppy going on the 14-race card, drawing clear at will after rating a :59 first half in his Sire Stakes division, carded as race nine. The son of Credit Winner and Miss Garland edged away from his four rivals on the far turn, posting a five and three-quarter length win over Swell Chap (Tim Tetrick) and Royal Casanova (John Campbell) in 1:55.3. Andy Miller drove Devious Man for Stroy Inc.
Devious Man's stablemate Money MacIntosh ($9.80) prevailed three races earlier, but would have to work a good bit harder to do so. Andy Miller angled the son of Credit Winner and Apple Plush first-over on approach to the backstretch, working to wear down Stick With Me Kid (Jason Bartlett) through a :28.1 third quarter before digging in to stave off the late-rallying Zacks Zoomer (Marcus Miller) by a nose in 1:56.2. Another Chapter (Brett Miller) saved third after being mired in traffic on the far side, while odds-on favourite Such An Angel failed to catch the field after an early break in stride.
The Millers also accounted for one of the four Empire Breeders Classic eliminations on the card, posting a 39-1 upset with Redneck Rally ($80.00) in the day's fifth event. The three-year-old American Ideal ridgling sustained first-over gains up the backstretch to force a :27.3 third quarter, wearing down prohibitive favourite Roll Away Joe (Jim Morrill Jr.) and holding off a belated push from Artmagic (Campbell) in 1:52.1.
American Passport ($3.90) captured the other Classic elimination for colts and geldings (race eight), brushing with a circuit to go and parrying a stout challenge from Talk Show (Morrill) in 1:51. Scott Zeron drove the American Ideal colt for trainer Tony Alagna.
In the Classic eliminations for fillies, No Clouds Bluechip ($3.80) and Penpal ($5.80) proved victorious.
No Clouds Bluechip had little trouble prevailing in the day's fourth event, working to a clear lead, turning aside an extended first-over push from Soft Idea (Zeron), and holding pocket rival Major Millie (Jason Bartlett) at bay in 1:53. Brett Miller drove the Roll With Joe filly for John Berger.
In the seventh, Penpal made perfect use of live cover through a :55.4 middle half, drafting behind Dime A Dance (Matt Kakaley) before swinging three-wide off the far turn. The daughter of American Ideal rallied to collar both pocket rival Angels Rockn Pink (Mark MacDonald) and pacesetter WIshy Washy Girl (Morrill) in 1:51.3 with trainer Patrick Lachance in the bike.
The fields for the Empire Breeders Classic finals, scheduled for Sunday, August 28, are as follows (post position, horse, trainer, asterisks denoting elimination winners), with final drivers to be available later in the week:
EBC Filly Pace - $239,225
1 - Soft Idea - Toscano
2 - Wine Snob - Schnittker
3 - No Clouds Bluechip* - Berger
4 - Wishy Washy Girl - Brainard
5 - Penpal* - Lachance
6 - Angels Rockn Pink - Oakes
7 - Major Millie - Elliott
8 - Right Stuff - Toscano
9 - Dime a Dance - Burke
AE1 - Rock Me Baby - Lind
EBC Colt & Gelding Pace - $240,475
1 - Ideal Son - Fanning
2 - Missile J - Toscano
3 - American Passport* - Alagna
4 - Fresh Cut - E. Miller
5 - Redneck Rally* - J. Miller
6 - Fine Diamond - Burke
7 - Stolen Glimpse - Burke
8 - Craftship - Alagna
9 - Artmagic - Smedshammer
AE1 - Nox Vegas Bluechip - Foley
(Tioga Downs)