$450,000 Empire Breeders Classic Sunday

Nichols, NY – The Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for harness racing pacers invade Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon featuring the finest sophomore NY sired performers in the land.

Spread over four races, entries required two divisions for each sex, the colts come up first in race six for a purse of $117,750. Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville) has the favorite’s role off his sparkling 1:50.2 win right here at Tioga last week for Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey. The gelding has won 6 of 15 lifetime starts for trainer Gregg McNair and partners George Kerr and Brad Grant who own the winner of more than $286,000 in his career.

Goldin Greatness (Jason Bartlett), another altered son of top sire Huntsville, is the choice in the second $119,000 colt division. He followed Huntinthelastdolar home last week to be second and has collected more than $100,000 with a 4 for 10 record this season for trainer Chris Ryder and partners Bill Ezzo, Evan Katz, Joe Sbrocco and John Fodera as JAF Racing.

Mr. Ryder will also bring along his prized pacing filly Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) and she will be heavily favored to win her division of the $107,000 filly stake. The filly has been invincible in the NY regional program spaced between her Grand Circuit engagements. Twin B Joe Fresh is currently razor sharp and quickly approaching $1 million in career earnings for the partnership of Ryder along with her driver Dexter Dunn, constant companion Perry Trebotica and Barry Spak.

Southwind Bella (Huntsville) has been a force in the program this season for trainer Brett Pelling and driver, his son Jack. The filly has been on the board in all ten starts of her seasonal starts for owner Thaddeus Wier and the path to the winner’s circle on Sunday appears to go through her.

The undercard feature is the NYSS for freshman pacing fillies, possibly a preview of next season’s EBC contestants.

Post time is 1:00 on Sunday afternoon.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs