Fresh off his dominant 1:49.4 win in last week’s Open, Andreios Kardia made the most of a pocket trip to exact revenge on Believe This Bob in Saturday evening’s $13,500 Open 1 Pace at Tioga Downs.
Aaron Byron used Andreios Kardia aggressively from race’s outset, working to push clear of Believe This Bob (Mike Simons) through a :26 first-quarter duel, only to yield control to Believe This Bob with a circuit to go. The five-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding found himself boxed through a :55.3 middle half, as Believe This Bob was forced to contend with the first-over JK Panache (Scott Coulter) up the far side. Andreios Kardia would find clearance off the far turn, vaulting out of the pocket as JK Panache faded and collaring Believe This Bob by half a length in a lifetime best 1:49.3. F Twenty Two (Corey Braden) saved ground throughout, passing tiring foes in upper stretch to take third.
Jeffrey Byron trains 14-time winner Andreios Kardia ($6.30) for owner-breeder Ina Madill.
In a $5,000 C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series event, Celebrity Stimulus and owner-driver David Glasser made every yard a winning one, repelling pressure from Dr Cal (Bob Hechkoff) and outlasting a three-wide charge from M T Ur Pockets (Hannah Miller) for a 1:58 triumph. Homer Hochstetler trains the six-year-old Cantab Hall gelding.
Two programs remain on the 2016 season at Tioga Downs. Live racing will take place on Friday (September 16) and Saturday (September 17) of next week, with first post at 6:30 p.m. on both nights.
(Tioga Downs)