In a one-on-one race for the track title of Pacer of Year, P L Princess C and Jeff Long captured the much-anticipated $10,000 match race at Tioga Downs on closing night, Saturday, Sept. 23.
Talk Show Chica (Corey Braden) blasted right out of the gate and led easily to the quarter in :29.2. She crawled to the half in 1:01.1 before hitting three-quarters first in 1:28.4. As they made the turn for home, P L Princess C popped the pocket and the race was on. Talk Show Chica dug in and P L Princess C kept coming. Both mares gave it everything they had, but P L Princess C used a late lunge to win by a head in the end in 1:56.1.
P L Princess C is a four-year-old mare by Thinking Out Loud. She is owned by Charlene Long and driver Jeff Long while trained by Paul Long. In 14 starts this season at Tioga, she now has recorded eight wins, three seconds and a third. P L Princess C earned Tioga's Pacer of the Year title with her impressive win in the match race.
Knight Angel was named Trotter of the Year. He had five wins, three seconds and two thirds in 15 starts at Tioga. The seven-year-old gelding by Archangel is owned by Jaypaul Hoover and trained by Julie Miller. His steady driver was Tyler Miller.
Mike Merton was Driver of the Year. “Magic Mike” had 115 wins. Ridge Warren (69), Tyler Miller (65), Jim Taggert Jr. (58) and Aaron Byron (35) rounded out the top five.
Rob Harmon was top trainer with 59 wins. Mike Deters was second with 27 tallies. Michelle Warner (22), Shane Taggert (21), Julie Miller (21) and Stacey McLenaghan (20) rounded out the top six.
Deborah Gagnon was Groom of the Year.
Tioga Downs would like to thank its fans, horsepeople and employees for a great season.
(With files from Tioga Downs)