Speculation captured Saturday night’s $16,000 Open Handicap Trot at Tioga Downs, which was one of four wins on the card for driver Jim Meittinis.
Leaving from post position number four after the field was scratched down to five, Meittinis and Speculation got away last as Waiting On A Woman (Jim Marohn Jr.) took the field to the quarter in :27.2.
Marohn and Waiting On A Woman continued to lead the field by the half-mile mark in :55.3 as Fox Valley Smarty (Corey Braden) was parked out in second. Down the backside, Waiting On A Woman was still in command as Meittinis got underway from last and moved Speculation into second over position behind Fox Valley Smarty as the field reached three-quarters in 1:23.3.
Just past the three-quarter-mile mark of the race, Waiting On A Woman made a break on the lead leaving Gaelic And Garlic (Fern Paquet Jr.) in control of the race with Speculation making a three-wide move around the final turn. In the stretch, Gaelic And Garlic was clinging to a short lead, but a closing Speculation would not be denied and got up to win by a nose in 1:55.1.
The win was the fourth of the year for the seven-year-old son of Pistols N Spurs–Mathers Cunchita, who is trained by Robert Bath. With the win, Speculation increased his seasonal earnings to more than $78,000 for owner Cozette Mcavoy of Pennsylvania.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, September 8 with a post time of 1:30 p.m., featuring two divisions of New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
(Tioga Downs)