Tioga Downs’ 2013 racing season came to a finish on Saturday night (September 14) with two-year-old pacers featured in the Reynolds Stakes, and yet another Open Pace victory by Tioga's 2013 Pacer of the Year Eastend Eddie.
Two divisions of two-year-old colt and gelding pacers in the Reynolds Stakes were captured by Stratos Hanover and Andy Miller in 1:54.1 for trainer Joe Holloway, and Beat The Drum with Jim Meittinis in 1:53.3 for Staffan Lind.
The fillies also drew two divisions in the Reynolds and were taken by Jimmy Takter trainees Ali Blue in 1:53.4 and Instant Respect in 1:54.1.
In the $16,000 Open Handicap Pace, Eastend Eddie continued his dominating ways and even did it against Free For All pacer Hurrikane Kingcole, who was shipped in to Tioga Downs for closing night by trainer John McDermott.
Driver Matt Kakaley settled Eastend Eddie in fifth as Aaron Byron hustled Hurrikane Kingcole to the front, but was unable to clear until past the opening quarter in :26.4. From there Byron tried to rate the four-year-old son of Cams Card Shark on the front getting by the half-mile mark in :54.2. Down the backside Eastend Eddie was underway from the back of the pack by Kakaley, and by three-quarters in 1:22.1, 'Kingcole' was under attack on the front end as Andy Miller had pulled the pocket with Panesthetic.
Around the final turn it was apparent that Hurrikane Kingcole had enough and Eastend Eddie was charging three-wide eating up ground with every stride. In deep stretch, Eastend Eddie had put the field away once again to win by two lengths in 1:51.2.
The win was Eastend Eddie's 10th of the season -- nine of which have come at Tioga Downs. He was named the 2013 Pacer of the Year at Tioga making it two years in a row for the Ron Burke trainee.
The 2013 year end awards were given out on Saturday night at Tioga Downs, wrapping up its eighth racing season. The 2013 Driver of the Year was Jimmy Marohn Jr. (76 wins) for the second consecutive year and Trainer of the Year went to Jamie Paquet (24 wins). Aruba Vacation was named Trotter of the Year.
Tioga Downs would like to thank all of its fans and horsemen for their support in making 2013 another successful year of harness racing in Nichols, New York.
(With files from Tioga Downs)