Sunday (August 9) afternoon's program at Tioga Downs was headlined by a sextet of Geers Stakes for two and three-year-old pacers, with six different drivers and five different trainers prevailing in the races worth a combined $246,930 in purses.
Five three-year-old pacing colts and geldings contested a single $56,664 split, and Tony Alagna trainees Revenge Shark ($3.50, part of entry, Brett Miller up) and Dreams Beachboy (Scott Zeron) took the top two spots. After My Hero Ron (Matt Kakaley) established the lead early and controlled a :55.2 first half, Revenge Shark commenced a first-over rally, pushing clear after a :26.4 third quarter and narrowly holding off his stablemate for a 1:50.2 win. My Hero Ron was a resurgent third after giving way, and Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund standout Remember Me VK (Montrell Teague), while making up four lengths of ground down the grandstand side in the final quarter, only could muster a fourth-place finish.
Alagna Racing LLC and Bradley Grant of Milton, Ontario own Revenge Shark, an entire son of Cams Card Shark.
While Alagna trainees swept the top two positions in the lone event for three-year-old male pacers, Erv Miller trainees prevailed in two of three splits for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, all of which were contested for just over $28,000. McDave ($5.80) and Marcus Miller prevailed off a pocket trip, just collaring 3-4 favourite Talk Show (Zeron) for a 1:52.1 triumph, while Aaron Byron mounted a belated rally with Ideal Jimmy ($7.40) to just collar Safensound Hanover (David Miller) and Do Over Hanover (Tim Tetrick) from off cover in a 1:53.2 score.
Ed Hart trainee Rock Power ($36.60, Jim Marohn Jr.) pulled off a major upset in the other division for two-year-old male pacers, holding off a stout first-over challenge from Manny (Mike Simons) to prevail by a half-length in 1:52.4. Favourite JJ Flynn (Tetrick) enjoyed a cozy second-over trip behind Manny, but failed to fire off the far turn.
A quartet of two-year-old pacing fillies vied for $56,776 in their non-wagering event, and Blue Moon Stride (Andy McCarthy) held sway from a late-charging JK Fannie (Tetrick) after controlling an easy pace. The Rocknroll Hanover filly turned in a 1:54 effort for trainer Mark Harder.
Likewise, four three-year-old pacing fillies competed in a non-wagering $47,664 event, and Ideal Nuggets (David Miller) proved a gutsy winner in 1:53, turning aside a first-over challenge from Crescent City (Tetrick) and subsequently staving off a late charge from Strut My Stuff (McCarthy) to prevail by a half-length. Ed Lohmeyer trains the daughter of Western Ideal.
The featured overnight race was a $14,000 Open Pace, with Believe This Bob ($39.20, Byron) setting the pace and narrowly holding off a late charge from 4-5 favourite El Bloombito (Tetrick) to prevail in 1:50.1. Joe Skowyra trains the seven-year-old Beach Romeo gelding for Mary Ann Larrimore.
(Tioga Downs)