Swans Eye ($13.40) and driver Jim Taggart Jr. captured the closing night feature, a $20,270 Open Trot, on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Tioga Downs.
Inaminute Hanover (Marcus Miller) led to the quarter in :27. He used a :29.2 second quarter to be first to the half in :56.2. Swans Eye made her move heading down the backstretch. Inaminute Hanover had a short lead to three-quarters in 1:24.3. Swans Eye and eventual third-place finisher Inaminute Hanover continued to battle as they reached the stretch. Lava Field (Tyler Miller) rallied three-wide but Swans Eye dug in to win in 1:54.1.
Swans Eye is a five-year-old mare by Swan For All owned by Vince Campolong and trained by Rocco Fava. She earned her third win this season from eight starts and her 14th career victory.
Braxten Boyd won his first driving title at Tioga Downs, finishing the season with 113 victories. Mike Merton was second with 86 wins. Tyler Miller (73), Aaron Byron (62) and Ridge Warren (41) rounded out the top five.
Rob Harmon topped all trainers with 51 wins. Jeff Cullipher finished second with 43 wins. Mike Deters (29), Erv Miller (26) and Kevin Reynolds Jr. (22) rounded out the top five.
Madam X was named the track’s Pacer of the Year. She had eight wins, four seconds and two thirds in 15 starts. The three-year-old filly by Bettors Wish is owned by Pollack Racing and trained by Jeff Cullipher.
May Baby won Trotter of the Year honours. The seven-year-old mare by Guccio is owned by Cheyenne Yoder and trained by Brandy Wine. She had five wins and three seconds in 12 starts.
Spittin Chicklets was the Claiming Horse of the Year. The six-year-old mare by Sportswriter had six wins, two seconds and three thirds in 13 starts. She is owned by Aaron Byron and trained by Jeff Byron.
Feelin American is the Amateur Horse of the Year. He was turned out and supposed to go back to the barn the weekend before last November’s fire, but his owners made a last-minute decision to leave him out extra days. This season, he raced in five amateur races, winning four of them.
Tioga Downs thanks its fans, horsepeople and employees for a great 2024 season.
(Tioga Downs)