Nichols, N.Y. — A dozen 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings share the spotlight at Tioga Downs on Saturday (September 5) evening in a pair of $53,500 New York Sire Stakes events, while a quintet of older distaff trotters contest a $40,000 Miss Versatility preliminary on the Labor Day (September 7) harness racing program.
Four-time winner Allerage Echo headlines the first Sire Stakes division, carded as the fourth of 12 races on Saturday's card. The gelded son of Conway Hall comes in off a dominant win at Monticello, defeating five foes in 1:58.1 en route to a lifetime mark. Chris Lems drives the 6-5 morning line favourite for trainer George Ducharme.
The second division, programmed as race nine, sees five-time winner Dayson installed as the 3-5 morning line favourite. Jeff Gregory will once again drive the undefeated Conway Hall gelding for trainer Howard Okusko, teaming up with him for his recent victories at Yonkers, Batavia, and Buffalo.
Of note, legendary racecaller Larry Lederman will stand in for James Witherite on Friday and Saturday evenings, with post time 6:15 p.m. Eastern on both occasions.
The Labor Day afternoon program features the fourth preliminary leg of the Miss Versatility series, with millionaire Classic Martine set to square off against Rockin With Dewey. Classic Martine, a 23-time winnter trained by Steve Elliott, was just collared by Charmed Life in this event last year after setting a robust pace. Matt Kakaley will drive the 5-year-old daughter of Classic Photo. Rockin With Dewey, part of the Benoit Baillargeon-trained 6-5 favoured entry, comes in off a 28-1 upset in the Earl Rowe Memorial at Georgian, sustaining a first-over push en route to a 1:53.2 win over the 5/8-mile Ontario course. Her driver in the Rowe, 24-year-old Bob McClure, retains the assignment, thus making his Tioga debut.
A pair of $14,000 Opens also take place on the 13-race Monday program, with Six Bax (Jim Taggart, Jr.) and Bourbon Bay (John Cummings, Jr.) squaring off in the ninth-race Trot, and Rockeyed Optimist (Matt Kakaley) headlining the tenth-race Pace.
Post time for the Labor Day program is 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite, Tioga Downs