Nichols, N.Y. — Top New York-sired 3-year-old pacers will contest a pair of Empire Breeders Classic finals on Sunday (August 23) at Tioga Downs, while the 2015 renewal of the Roll With Joe attracted a half-dozen veteran harness racing pacers.
Pacing fillies vie for $269,000 in their Empire Breeders Classic event (race 6), and Divine Caroline (post 2) has been installed the 2-1 morning line favourite. The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven vaulted clear from the pocket for a 1:49.4 win her elimination last week, having earned runner-up honors in the Shady Daisy and Mistletoe Shalee earlier in the season. David Miller will drive the 4-time winner for trainer Joe Holloway. Along with Band of Angels (Yannick Gingras, post 3) and Moremercy Bluechip (Andy Miller, post 4), also victorious in their eliminations, a field of nine have been attracted for this prestigious distaff event.
Not a half hour later, pacing colts and geldings square off for a $290,000 purse in their Empire Breeders Classic event (race 7). In the Arsenal (post 2) rebounded well from a pair of off-the-board finishes in the Meadowlands Pace and the Cane Pace, controlling the terms in his elimination for a 1:49.3 triumph under Brian Sears. The Kelvin Harrison trainee has been installed part of an 8-5 favoured entry, along with Betting Exchange (post 7, Yannick Gingras). Casie Coleman trainee Arque Hanover (post 1), the other elimination winner, will receive the driving services of George Brennan as Sears opted to remain with In the Arsenal.
The ninth race on the Sunday afternoon program is the Roll With Joe for free-for-all pacers, and a select field of six will contest a $150,000 purse. Trainer Ron Burke sends out two of the six starters, with Foiled Again (post 5, Yannick Gingras) leading the sentimental interests. The 84-time winner has amassed over $7 million in his career, but only has one win to date in his 11-year-old season–he narrowly prevailed in the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park in June. U.S. Pacing Championship winner State Treasurer (post 2) has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favourite following his dominant 1:47 triumph at the Meadowlands just two weeks ago. Trainer Dr. Ian Moore once again enlists David Miller to drive the 6-year-old Real Desire entire. Track record holder Doo Wop Hanover (post 6) returns to Tioga as well, having paced a 1:47.4 mile in his Graduate event on Memorial Day. John Campbell is back in the bike for trainer Steve Elliott.
Post time for the star-studded Sunday program is slated for 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite, Tioga Downs