Taking advantage of a pocket trip and room on the far turn left by a fading Bourbon Bay, Skates N Plates ($29.60) pounced late to just collar Six Bax in Saturday (August 1) evening's $14,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs.
Aaron Byron secured the pocket with the four-year-old Revenue S entire, drafting behind Grey Ice (Corey Braden) through a :27.2 first quarter. As soon as Byron vacated the pocket and brushed Skates N Plates to the lead, though, Six Bax (Jim Taggart Jr.) circled three-deep out of third, clearing just upon passing the winning post on the first occasion. After taking charge through a :55.2 half-mile, Six Bax faced mild pressure on the backstretch from the first-over Bourbon Bay (John Cummings Jr.), maintaining his one and a half-length lead through three-quarters in 1:24.3. As Bourbon Bay faded on the far turn, Skates N Plates found room to vacate the pegs, driven to a narrow 1:53.4 victory in the final yards. Six Bax held second, while Tirade Hanover (Tyler Raymer) kicked cover off the far turn to take third.
Paul Kelley trains Skates N Plates for owner-breeder Robert Key.
Byron scored a hat trick on the 12-race card, as did Jim Taggart Jr.
(Tioga Downs)