Racing Roundup: Storyeum takes Open Pace at Tioga Downs
Sunday's (June 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Scioto Downs.
Storyeum takes Open Pace at Tioga Downs
Nichols, NY --- Sunday afternoon’s $16,500 Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs saw Storyeum and Ed Hensley leave from post position four in a field of seven and settle in the pocket behind 2-5 favorite He’s Gorgeous (Greg Merton).
However, Hensley was not happy with the pocket trip and moved Storyeum right back to the front through fractions of :56 and 1:24.3. Heavy favorite He’s Gorgeous sat the two hole trip but couldn’t pick up the leader down the stretch and Storyeum went on to record his fifth win of the year in 1:52.3. He’s Gorgeous (Greg Merton) hung on for second, while Western Smoocher (Rick Plano) got up for third.
In the opening divisions of the Nichols True Value Pace, Modern Day Clyde and Corey Braden used a two hole trip to bust loose in the lane and post a huge upset over heavy favorite JK Kinahurra for trainer Colby Hubble. The 34-1 longshot gunned by the leaders down the stretch to score in 1:53.4 for his fifth win in nine seasonal starts.
Dry Gulch was the heavy favorite in the second division and didn’t let his backers down as Merton stepped through fractions of :26.2 and :56. Down the backside, Cracker Pullet and Mike Micallef pulled the pocket on Dry Gulch and these two engaged in a cut throat duel around the final turn after three-quarters in 1:24.1. However, Merton asked for more and Dry Gulch responded by putting away the deuce popper to win in 1:52.2 for his sixth win of the year. Magical New Day (Greg Grismore) moved up the pylons and just missed at the wire, while Rockstar Temper (Howard Parker) came from last to take down the show spot.
In the third and final division Ed Hensley steered Who Your Frens Are to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4 with a second over trip for trainer Bobbi Martin. It was the fifth win in 11 seasonal starts for the 5-year-old son of Camotion–Southwind Raven.
Ed Hensley posted five driving victories on Sunday afternoon’s 13-race card to leap back into first place in the drivers' standings, while Greg Merton made three trips to the winner’s circle.
-- Dustin Ross
Saratoga Casino and Raceway
There was a major upset in the Sunday afternoon feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Longshot pacing mare Stratus prevailed in the $16,000 Open for distaff pacers as red hot reinsman Jay Randall moved the Ed Clement trainee into the pocket spot at the start. The 8-year-old by Keystone Raider was coming off a race last weekend in which she was beaten by nearly a dozen lengths against similar competition but was up to the task on Sunday afternoon as she tracked the every move of the leader Shes Everything (Dan Cappello, Jr.) from the pocket before closing sharply up the passing lane to register the upset at 64-1 for Randall. The win, which came in 1:55.2, propelled the mare to quarter millionaire status as she moved over the $250,000 mark in lifetime earnings. Impressive Char (Billy Dobson) fought gamely to finish second while Shes Everything held on for third. The victory was one of two on the afternoon for Stratus’ owner James Gipson and trainer Ed Clement who also saw their One True Friend (Dream Vacation) set a lifetime mark on Sunday, trotting to a 2:00.1 win.
Scioto Downs
Filly Power unleashed a strong closing kick to pass three horses in the final hundred yards to win the Ohio Lottery Race of the Day at Scioto Downs on Sunday. Jonas Hershberger drove her to victory in 1:59.3 for owner-trainer Kenneth Berger. Jack Dailey left fastest of all with the 7-2 shot Whatsupwiththat and the SJ's Caviar gelding looked like a winner as they turned for home. As he began to tire, Parson Brown and driver Kyle Ater ranged up on the outside with Caroline M and Sandy Beatty shooting through on the inside. They caught Whatsupwithat and the trio trotted toward the finish line. Suddenly Filly Power was full of power and she shot past them in the final strides to win by a head. It was her second win in six starts this season and represented a new lifetime mark. Caroline M got second while Whatsupwiththat held for third. Trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. unleashed an impressive sophomore trotter in Smoke’n Muscles, who scored a maiden win in 1:59.1 for driver Dan Noble. The son of Muscles Yankee was parked to the opening quarter, but then assumed commanded and trotted away from his pursuers in the final quarter. He tripped the timer at 1:59.1 with an 11 length margin. Smok’n Muscles, who is also owned by Morgan, was making his first official lifetime start.