Judge couldn’t split feature winners at Tioga

Special Tyler (American Ideal, Brandon Parker) and Joint Account (American Ideal, Jeffrey Long) finished in a dead heat during the featured $10,000 pace at Tioga Downs on Saturday (August 20).

Special Tyler ($4.60) went straight to the front from his outside post and led to the quarter in :27.2.  He used a :28.2 second quarter and was first to the half in :55.4.  My Blueberry Buck (Mike Merton) came first-up and made a challenge as they headed for the far turn.

Special Tyler was first to three-quarters in 1:24.2.

As they reached the stretch Joint Account ($6.80) squeezed through on the inside as Beach Town Boy (Jim Taggart Jr.) came charging late on the outside. Special Tyler dug in as Joint Account went all out and it ended in a dead heat in 1:54.4.  Beach Town Boy finished third.

SPECIAL TYLER & JOINT ACCOUNT REPLAY

Special Tyler is a 4-year-old.  He is owned by Gordon Swift and trained by Jeff Sorenson.  He won for the first time this season.  He now has seven lifetime wins.

Joint Account is a 3-year-old gelding.  He is owned by Rick Howles and trainer John Hallet.  It was his fifth win this season and his eighth career victory.

Mike Merton drove four winners on the card.  He got his wins with Show Me The Magic (Donato Hanover) ($4.20), Luciano (Bettor`s Delight) ($3.40), The Magic Of Life (Royalty For Life) ($3.80), and Pocket Watch N (He’s Watching) ($5.80).

Tioga Downs returns to Live racing on Sunday (August 21) with a 15-race card featuring three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old pacing colts & geldings starting at 1 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs