After a first quarter tussle with the 4-5 favourite, Rio and driver Braxten Boyd retook the lead in the homestretch and pulled off the upset in the featured $20,833 Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs on Sunday, Aug. 3.
Leaving from the outside post six, Rio cleared early leaver Vandiemen Bluechip (Ridge Warren) but the favourite looped back around as they passed the quarter-pole in :27.1. From there, Rio bided his time in the two-hole through middle splits of :55.2 and 1:22.2 then popped the pocket off the final turn when the first-over pursuer stalled and wore down Vandiemen Bluechip for the 1:49.4 victory by a length. Rio returned $17.20 to win as the 7-1 fourth choice. Longshot Sea Of Life (Dan Rawlings) rounded out the top three.
Rio is a four-year-old Sweet Lou-Amora Hanover gelding, trained by Tee Wine and owned by Jack Piatt III of Washington, Pennsylvania. Lightly raced as a two-year-old, Rio went winless in 11 sophomore starts but has succeeded seven times this year in 23 starts to boost his bankroll over the $100,000 mark.
The victory in the Open was the first of four wins on the 12-race card for Boyd. Mike Merton tied Boyd for the day's top driving honours.
Live harness racing continues at Tioga Downs on Friday, Aug. 8, with a post time of 6:15 p.m.
(Standardbred Canada with files from Tioga Downs)