Natameri wins Slavin Memorial

Natameri (American Ideal) and driver Mike Simons and Can’t Say No (Explosive Matter) and driver Mike Merton grabbed the harness racing co-features at Tioga Downs on Saturday (September 17).

Natameri ($7.20) takes the $15,000 Michael Gene Slavin Memorial Open Pace.

Natameri went to the front and led to the quarter in :26.3.  Our Majordan A (Brandon Parker) went on by with a circuit to go and led to the half in :55.0.  Natameri came first-over heading to the final turn.  Our Majordan A had a short lead to three-quarters in 1:23.0.

As they made the turn for home Natameri took control.  Keystone Tenacious (Aaron Byron) became the major danger and went all out after the leader.  Natameri dug in as second place finisher Keystone Tenacious kept coming.  Natameri held strong and won is 1:51.3.  Straight Up Cool (Tyler Jones) finished third.

Natameri is a 4-year-old owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by Jessica Okusko.  It was his seventh win in nine starts this season.  He now has 13 career victories.

NATAMERI REPLAY

Can’t Say No ($3.80) wins the $15,000 Open Trot.

Marion Gondolier (Brandon Parker) got the first call but Can’t Say No took over just before hitting the first quarter in :28.0.  Marion Gondolier took the lead back with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.3.  Can’t Say No makes a first-over move heading for the final turn. Marion Gondolier was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Can’t Say No took over as they reached the stretch but had to brace for a late rush by second place finisher Altus Hanover (Mike Simons).  Can’t Say No wins in 1:55.0.  Meadowbranch Ricky (Wally Hennessey) finished third.

Can’t Say No is a 5-year-old horse owned by Jemaxpo Stable and trained by Tee Wine.  It was his seventh win this season.  He now has 16 career victories.

CAN’T SAY NO REPLAY

Mike Watson trained four winners on the card.  He got his wins with Look In My Eyes ($3.20), Bilbo Hanover ($27.20), Rifleman ($7.50), and Crack A Smile ($2.80).

With just two cards left in the 2022 season.  Wally Hennessey leads all drivers with 127 wins.  Mike Merton is second with 99 tallies.  Corey Braden (49), Brandon Parker (44), and Aaron Byron (42) rounds out the top five.

The trainer’s title is going down to the wire.  Mike Deters and Patti Harmon are in a flat-footed tie for first with 43 wins each.  Gaston Lareau is third with 27 first place finishes.  Jim McDonald (26), and Joe Skowyra (23) round out the top five.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing for their last weekend of the season.  They will race on Friday (September 23) and end the season on Saturday (September 24).  Post time for both days is 3:00 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs