Thinkbig Dreambig gutted out a victory for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter in the third $25,400 division of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes races for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings Friday evening at Tioga Downs.
There were three divisions of sophomore pacers for colt and geldings, as well as three division for their counterpart pacing fillies.
No Easy Day (Matt Kakaley) took the lead and controlled all the early fractions (:27.2, :56.4, 1:24.1), but Thinkbig Dreambig ($3.40) went first-over on the back stretch and pressured No Easy Day all around the last half mile. Trained by Takter for owners Brixton Medical Inc, John Fielding, Goran Anderberg, and Goran Falk, he would take over in mid-stretch and hold off the late charge of Ideal Feeling (Corey Callahan) to win in 1:52.2. No Easy Day and Ideal Feeling ended up in a dead heat for second.
Thinkbig Dreambig is a three-year-old colt by Bettors Delight. Not raced as a two-year-old, he has won four straight as a sophomore in five career starts.
In the Tompkins-Geers first division ($24,900) for colts and geldings, Rockapelo (Jim Morrill, Jr.) charged late to get the victory in 1:50.2. Shadow Cat (Corey Callahan) finished second, while Wheels On Fire (Matt Kakaley) was third.
Rockapelo ($10.80) is a three-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven. Owned by Enviro Stables and trained by Linda Toscano, it was his second win this season and career win number six.
Winston (Corey Callahan) went gate-to-wire to win the second division ($24.90) of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes. Winston put up all the numbers - :27.1, :55.1 and 1:22.1 – en route to the 1:50.1 victory. Second place finisher Terror Atthe Beach (Fern Paquet, Jr.) came out of the pocket to challenge but fell short by a neck. Heartbeat Hill (Jim Marohn, Jr.) was third.
Winston ($7.10) is a three-year-old gelding by Western Ideal. He is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by John Butenschoen. It was his fourth win this season and career victory number six.
Jewels Forreal (Matt Kakaley) came out of the clouds to win the first division ($23,500) of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies. Sixth at the top of the stretch she swooped by to win in 1:51. E Dees Well Said (Jim Pantaleano) was second, with Betterthanbrie (Jimmy Takter) finishing third.
Owned by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., the three-year-old filly by So Surreal won for the second time this season. It was career win number five.
Ask Me If I Care (Mike Micallef) went gate-to-wire to barely hold-off Aldine Hanover (Marcus Miller) in the second division ($23,500) of the Tompkins-Geers for Fillies in a time of 1:52.1. Kimberlee (Jim Morrill, Jr.) finished third.
Ask Me If I Care ($9.20) is a three-year-old filly by Manhardt. Trained by Micallef for owners Libby Myers and Anita Micallef, it was her second win of 2018. It was career tally number four.
In the last Tompkins-Geers Stakes ($23,500) for sophomore pacing fillies it was Cuts Like A Knife (Corey Callahan) to steal the victory with a late run in 1:52.4. Reign On Me (Jim Morrill, Jr.) was second best. Newsday (Jim Marohn, Jr.) finished third.
Cuts Like A Knife ($23.00) is a three-year-old filly by A Rocknroll Dance. Trained by Bruce Saunders for owners Charles, Julie and Francene Nash, it was her first win this season and fourth career victory.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday with a 10-race card starting at 6:15 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)