Narrowly missing Fireyourguns in last week's top pacing event, Bettorsluckystreak sustained a first-over grind to just collar even-money favourite That'll Be the Rei in Sunday afternoon's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs.

 

Jim Taggart, Jr. floated into midfield with the five-year-old Bettors Delight gelding at race's outset, out-sprinted up the pegs by Believe This Bob (Dan Clements) in the initial stages. Believe This Bob subsequently ceded the lead to Thatll Be the Rei (Dan Clements) after a sensible :27.3 opening quarter mile.

 

Just as Thatll Be the Rei pulled the pace back through a :56.3 half, Bettorsluckystreak mounted his first-over rally, gaining steadily from fourth to apply pressure at the midpoint of the backstretch. The two would duel through the far turn and into the stretch, with Bettorsluckystreak just collaring Thatll Be the Rei by a neck in 1:53.4, also staving off a three-wide push from the second-over Dreamlands Art (Brandon Simpson), who took third placing.

 

Trainer Gary Messenger co-owns Bettorsluckystreak with Kenneth Weckstein and Richard Rubin.

 

The 11-race program also featured a pair of second-round Nichols True Value late-closing events, with Lets Foal Around ($7.40, Mike Simons) and Jeneral Patton ($2.50, Jim Marohn, Jr.) both parlaying pocket trips into victories.

 

Live racing returns to Tioga on Friday (June 26) evening, with post time slated for 6:15 p.m.