Empire elims held for 3YO pacers at Tioga

Hula’s Z Tam, Barks Like A Dog, Malicious, and Dr Dreamy all captured eliminations of the Empire Breeder’s Classic on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

 

Malicious (David Miller) took home the first $12,500 division for 3-year old colt pacers by cutting through fractions of :26.3, ;57.2, and 1:24.1 before sprinting home in :27.2, holding off Jo Pa’s Fod (John Campbell) to win their initial sophomore start in 1:51.3. Windfall Blue Chip (Brian Sears) tried a first over grind battling through the stretch, but tired and finished third. He’s Gorgeous and I’m Gorgeous both made breaks and were unable to get back into contention to make the final. OK Commander (Doug McNair) finished fourth and also qualified for next Sunday’s $217,250 final.

 

In the second division for pacing colts, Dr Dreamy (Brian Sears) throttled to the front out of post position one and never slowed the pace through fractions of :27.2, :55.3, and 1:23.1 before fighting off Major Work Of Art (Phil Fluet) in the stretch to win in 1:51.3.

 

Art Two D Two (Joe Pavia Jr.) used a two-hole trip to finish third and qualify for next week’s final, while S N P Bluechip (Doug McNair) finished fourth and will also start in next Sunday’s finale. The two fifth-place finishers, Flexjet and TGIF, were drawn to see who would join the eight horses in next week’s final, and Flexjet came out of the draw in the race, with TGIF being labeled AE1.

 

 

2009 New York Sire Stakes Champion Hula’s Z Tam (Pat Lachance) got away last in the first division for 3-year old pacing fillies, but used a second-over trip to capture her first start of the year in 1:53.4. Shaky Hanover (Jason Bartlett) cut out fractions of :28.2, :58, and 1:25.2 before tiring in the stretch to finish third, while Galimony (George Brennan) finished second. Love And Honor (DR Ackerman) paced late through the stretch to finish fourth and also qualify for next Sunday evenings $202,200 final.

 

In the second division for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Barks Like A Dog (Ray Schnittker) made the front and lulled the field to sleep through fractions of :27.4 and :57.4 before pacing a third quarter in ;27.1 to separate themselves from the field and win in 1:53.1. Rough Sketch (Jim Morrill Jr.) finished second, Tia Maria Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) finished third, and Ladybones (Brian Sears) finished fourth all qualifying for next Sunday’s $202,200 final.

 

Lady Major and Max’s Leading Lady both finished fifth in their respective divisions and were drawn to see who would get the final spot  in the EBC final with Lady Major being drawn in, with Max’s Leading Lady AE1. (Tioga Downs)