Sailing Cruise pulled off the upset on Saturday night at Tioga Downs as he just nosed out heavy favourite Bullville Powerful on the wire in the $29,092 New York State Fair Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:51.3.
The three-year-old son of Riverboat King out of the Sportsmaster mare Mattie Maccheese was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. who posted five wins on the night's card.
It was the sixth win of the year for Sailing Cruise in fifteen starts with seasonal earnings of more than $120,000 for owners George Zitone of Montague, New Jersey and Michael Peterson of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. The mile equaled his lifetime mark that was set at Vernon Downs on June 28.
General Royal lowered the track benchmark for three-year-old gelding trotters in a division of the New York State Fair Stakes with Stephane Bouchard in the sulky.
The mile of 1:57.1 lowered the record that was set two races before that by The Principle and Dan Daley of 1:57.2. Linda Toscano trains the three-year-old son of Cr Excalibur out of the Crystas Crown mare Crown Crysta who is owned by Kenneth Jacobs of Baldwinsville, New York. General Royal was purchased by Jacobs out of the Morrisville Sale for a price tag of $17,000 and now sports career earnings of more than $158,000.
Jim Morrill Jr. also visited the winner's circle with Four Starz Speed, Its Coast Time, Colies and Parcc Side. Stephane Bouchard posted a driving double.
Tioga Downs continues its New York State Fair fest on Sunday, August 17 with a post time of 1:15 p.m.
To view the charted lines from Saturday, click here.
(With files from Tioga Downs)