Tug River Princess and Eric Goodell captured the fourth edition of the $127,000 Artiscape Pace on Saturday night at Tioga Downs
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In front of more than 3,000 fans on closing night Eric Goodell settled Tug River Princess in fourth as the other half of the Ross Croghan trained entry Southwind Tempo (Tim Tetrick) got to the quarter in :27.2. Hana Hanover and George Brennan settled in the pocket, while Yannick Gingras and Darlins Delight dropped in third.
As the field settled down and headed towards the half mile mark, Goodell flushed cover from Darlins Delight and tripped the half mile teletimer in :56. With Darlins Delight first-over, Tetrick hit the gas and rushed through a :27.4 third quarter as the field set up for stretch duel.
At the top of the stretch, Goodell tipped three-wide and edged entry mate Southwind Tempo on the wire in 1:52.1 to establish a new track record for four-year-old pacing mares. Darlins Delight, who suffered a tough trip fought gamely to the wire to hang on for third and was only beaten a head for the win. Hana Hanover was overloaded with pace down the stretch, but had no place to go and had to settle for a fourth place finish.
Ross Croghan trains Tug River Princess for Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables, and Jerry Silva. It was the fourth win in 10 seasonal starts for the four-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover-Aucryifiwanto, who increased her seasonal earnings to $403,437.
Tioga Down’s year end awards were awarded after the fourth race on Saturday night with Jimmy Marohn, Jr. picking up driver of the year, and Phil Fluet and Michael Deters each taking home the co-trainer of the year title with thirty one wins on the season. The Michael Deters trained pacing mare Lucy Lucy took home the pacer of the year honours, with Righteous trained by Paul Bernardo trotter of the year.
Phil Fluet also captured three driving victories on the night’s 11-race card.
(With files from Tioga Downs)