Tioga Downs wrapped up its 2012 racing season with the final card of live racing on Saturday night in Nichols, New York.
As they have in years past, the harness racing fans of the Southern Tier showed their support for Tioga Downs and a crowd of more than 4,000 came out for closing night.
In the $18,000 Open Handicap Pace, Hypnotic Blue Chip and Jim Meittinis took control of the field by an opening quarter in :26.2. Meittinis got a :28.4 second quarter breather by a half in :55.1 as A J Corbelli and Lewayne Miller began their first over journey from fourth. When the field went by three-quarters in 1:22.4, Meittinis asked 'Hypnotic' for more as A J Corbelli was right at his throat heading into the stretch. Halfway through the lane it looked as if A J Corbelli was going to get the best of Hypnotic Blue Chip, but the six-year-old stallion fought back gamely on the wire to hold off A J Corbelli in 1:50.4.
Kevin McDermott trains the son of Art Major and A Traceofmagic, who earned his fifth victory of the season and second consecutive win for owner Francis Azur.
A J Corbelli was a game second for Miller, while Stonebridge Tonic and Jim Marohn Jr. used a pocket trip to finish third.
Hypnotic Blue Chip returned $3.10 for a $2 win payoff as the public’s choice.
In the $18,000 Filles & Mares Open Handicap Pace, Southwind Trini and Joe Pavia Jr. skimmed the pylons to find room late in the stretch to win in 1:53. Pavia kept Southwind Trini off the early pace through fractions of :27.1, :56.4, and 1:24.4 as All About Kisses and Mike Simons were on the front end. Around the final turn, Fern Paquet Jr. pulled Do Me Honor out of the two-hole to challenge the leader, which left a lane up the inside with All About Kisses drifting off the rail. Paquet could not get by the leader in deep stretch as Simons nipped him on the wire for Southwind Trini’s seventh win of the year.
Rob Harmon trains the four-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Tattoo Hanover for Karma Racing Inc. of Florida.
Do Me Honor got up for second, while All About Kisses hung tough for third.
Marohn Jr. capped off the 2012 race season at Tioga Downs as the leading driver, while Ron Burke held off Jamie Paquet by two wins as 2012 leading trainer.
Burke also earned Pacer of the Year honours with Eastend Eddie while Spice It Up Lindy was named 2012 Trotter of the Year at Tioga Downs for trainer Santo Zuzolo. Burke’s second trainer Keith Kamann accepted his awards.
Tioga Downs would like to thank all of its fans and horsemen who helped make the 2012 racing season at Tioga Downs a success.
(With files from Tioga Downs)