Tioga Downs opened up for its eighth season of live racing on Saturday, May 4. As in years past, the harness racing fans of the Southern Tier showed their support as more than 15,000 attended “Derby Fest” at the Nichols, New York track.
Jimmy Marohn Jr. and Visible Gold got the year started off with a bang winning the third leg of the Hudson River Series in a new lifetime best of 1:49.3.
The pair left from post six in in :26.1, but were forced to release Long Live Rock (Jeff Dauplaise), who was parked on the outside. The field paced by the half in :54 as Domethatagain (Marcus Miller) headed the field towards three-quarters. Down the backside, Visible Gold found room and angled off the pylons following Mr Dennis (Nick Surick) by three-quarters in 1:21.1. Around the final turn, Marohn sent Visible Gold three-wide and paced away from the field in the stretch for his ninth win in a row.
Tioga Downs’ 2012 leading trainer, Ron Burke, conditions the five-year-old son of Bettors Delight–Gabrielle for his Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and RTC Stables, all of Pennsylvania.
Domethatagain (Marcus Miller) hung tough for second while Take It Back Terry, the other half of the Burke entry, paced home late for third.
Visible Gold's win streak includes prior legs of the Hudson River Series at Pocono Downs and Meadowlands Racetrack, along with a string of wins at The Meadows.
Spice It Up Lindy (Jim Meittinis) captured Saturday night’s $16,000 Open Trot in 1:53.3, while Docs Hope (Jim Meittinis) took the $16,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace in 1:52.
Meittinis posted four driving victories on the night’s 10-race card while Marohn Jr. had a triple.
(With files from Tioga Downs)