Ariana G (Tim Tetrick) put up the first quarter time of :26.4. Yannick Gingras then charged out from third with big favorite Hannelore Hanover, but she had to use a little extra effort to clear to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.1.
As they reached the top of the stretch, Ariana G tried to find racing room but found none. Meanwhile, stablemates Dream Together (Bob McClure) and Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dubé) came flying down the stretch together, with Dream Together getting the upper hand in a stretch battle to win in 1:53.1. Emoticon Hanover, who set a world record in this race a year ago, settled for second best, while Hannelore Hanover hung on for third.
Dream Together, a 4-year-old Muscle Hill mare trained by Luc Blais for Determination, sprung a major upset for the second week in a row after using late speed to win the Steele Memorial last week at The Meadowlands. It was her third win this season and the 11th of her career.
In the $186,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot, odds-on favorite Will Take Charge ($3.50) turned in a track-record performance for older trotting geldings with a 1:51.2 score.
I Know My Chip (Jim Marohn Jr.) led the field to a first quarter of :27.1, before Will Take Charge and Tim Tetrick brushed to the lead by the stands for the first time to the half in :56.1.
After increasing his lead on the backstretch, Will Take Charge hit three-quarters in 1:23.3. Once he reached the top of the stretch, everyone knew the race was over. He cruised home in a last quarter of :27.4 en route to his divisional track record. I Know My Chip followed to finish second, while JL Cruze (Brett Miller) was third best.
Will Take Charge is a 5-year-old Kadabra gelding owned by Mac Nichol and trained by Jeffrey Gillis. He won for the eighth time this season and he captured career victory number 20.
Favorites Alexis Faith ($2.80) and Youaremycandygirl ($2.10) both prevailed in their Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
In the first EBC elimination, Ms Cheesman (John MacDonald) led to the first quarter in :27 before Alexis Faith and Jim Morrill Jr. charged by to take over, hitting the half in :56.0 and three-quarters in 1:23.3. Alexis Faith dug in to hold off a late rally by Pueblo Blue Chip (Gingras) to win in 1:52. Second-place finisher Pueblo Blue Chip, third-place finisher Painted Lady (Tim Tetrick), and fourth-place finisher Ms Cheeseman also qualified for next week's final.
Casie Coleman trains Alexis Faith for the West Wins Stable, Jim Fielding, Robert Darrow and Kevin McKinlay. It was the third win this season for the daughter of American Ideal and the ninth win in her career.
In the second EBC elimination, I'm Trigger Happy (Marohn) charged out to lead to a first quarter in :27.1 before Youaremycandygirl and Yannick Gingras brushed from fourth and cleared before the second turn. She then controlled fractions of :56.2 and 1:23.2 en route to a 1:51 win. I'm Trigger Happy, Believe In Me (David Miller), Solitary (Andy Miller) and Marjorette Angie (Drew Monti) rounded out the top five finishers and all advance to next week's final.
Youaremycandygirl, a daughter of American Ideal owned by William J. Donovan and trained by Ron Burke, won for the fifth time this season and for the 14th time in her career.
On the boys' side, American History ($3.30) and Courtly Choice ($2.20) won their EBC eliminations.
In the first elimination for pacing colts and geldings, Hitman Hill (Brett Miller) went to the front and controlled all the early fractions of :28.1, :57.2, 1:23.4 before American History (Gingras) made his move just before entering the far turn. The son of American Ideal took over at the top of the stretch and won in 1:51.1. Hitman Hill held second, while Heavenly Sound (Marohn) and Ghost Dance (Scott Zeron), third and fourth respectively, also qualified for next week's final.
American History, trained by Tony Alagna for Brittany Farms LLC, Marvin Katz and American History Racing, earned his fourth win on the season. He now has seven career victories.
In the second EBC elimination, Ideal Feeling (Tim Tetrick) went to a first quarter lead in :27 before Courtly Choice (David Miller) buzzed by and never looked back, covering middle fractions of :55 and 1:21.2 on his way to a dazzling 1:49 mile. He was followed by fellow qualifiers Ideal Feeling, Real Surreal (James MacDonald), Keystone Tenacious (Mark MacDonald) and Mach N Cheese (Marohn), finishing second through fifth.
Courtly Choice, a son of Art Major, is trained by Blake MacIntosh for the Hutt Racing Stable, Mac&Heim Stables, Daniel Plouffe and Touch Stone Farms. It was his seventh win this season and the ninth of his career.
Here is the starting order for the $250,000 (est.) EBC final for pacing fillies: (1) Alexis Faith, (2) Majorette Angie, (3) Solitary, (4) Pueblo Blue Chip, (5) I'm Trigger Happy, (6) Youaremycandygirl, (7) Painted Lady, (8) Believe In Me, (9) Ms Cheesman.
Here is the starting order for the $250,000 (est.) EBC final for pacingcolts and geldings: (1) Heavenly Sound, (2) Keystone Tenacious, (3) American History, (4) Mac N Cheese, (5) Courtly Choice, (6) Hitman Hill, (7) Ideal Feeling, (8) Ghost Dance, (9) Real Surreal.
Both Empire Breeders Classic finals will be contested next Sunday (Aug. 19).
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (Aug. 17) at 6:15 p.m.
For more information, go to www.tiogadowns.com.