Tioga Downs held the Empire Breeders’ Classic eliminations for three-year-old pacing colts on Sunday afternoon. Vegas Vacation and Sunfire Blue Chip each captured their respective $12,500 divisions sent off by the betting public as the heavy favourites.
In the first division, Vegas Vacation and Brian Sears got away third as Odds On Equuleus (John Campbell) took the field by the opening quarter in :26.4. Campbell then got away with a second quarter breather of :28.4 to reach the half mile mark of the race in :55.3. At the half, Sears sent Vegas Vacation first over and was head-to-head with Odds On Equuleus by three-quarters in 1:22.2. Around the final turn, Vegas Vacation eased away from the leader to draw clear in the stretch and win by two and a half lengths on cruise control in 1:49.2.
“We had sort of an eased first up trip today and he finished very strong on the end of the mile," said Sears following the victory. "He is a major contender in the division this year and he will get one of the big ones this year."
Casie Coleman trains the Bettors Delight gelding for Ontario owners West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Adriano Sorella of Milton, Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, and Phyllis Saunders of Hamilton. The runner-up to Sunfire Blue Chip in the Adios has won five of his 10 starts this year to earn over $330,000.
In the second division, Adios champ Sunfire Blue Chip quickly left the gate from post position number four in rein to birthday boy Yannick Gingras and was on control by the quarter in :27.3. The duo then put up fractions of :55 and 1:23.2 before easily pacing clear of the field to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50.2.
Jimmy Takter trains the son of American Ideal, who has won six of 10 seasonal starts good for more than $360,000 in earnings. He is owned by Takter's wife Christina Takter along with John and Jim Fielding of Scarborough, Ont., R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington, Ont., and Sweden's Brixton Medical Ab.
“He won real easy today and we saved a good bit for the final next week so I was really happy with him today,” said Gingras. “He has been getting better all year long and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else going into the second half of the season, including Captaintreacherous.”
Qualifying for next week’s $257,250 Empire Breeders Classic final were: Vegas Vacation, Sir Carys Z Tam, Doctor Butch, Odds On Equuleus, Sunfire Blue Chip, Captive Audience, Bet The Moon, Olde Time Hockey, and drawing the last spot from the fifth place finishers was Source Of Pride. Swift As A Shadow will be "Also Eligible 1" for the final.
(With files from Tioga Downs)