Swans Eye wins closing night feature trot at Tioga

Swans Eye (Swan For All, Jim Taggert Jr.) captured the featured $15,000 harness racing Open Trot at Tioga Downs on closing night Saturday (September 21).

Inaminute Hanover (Marcus Miller) led to the quarter in :27.0.  He used a :29.2 second quarter to be first to the half in :56.2.  Swans Eye ($13.40) made her move heading down the backstretch.  Inaminute Hanover had a short lead to three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Swans Eye and third place finisher Inaminute Hanover continued to battle as they reached the stretch.  Second place finisher Lava Field (Tyler Miller) came three-wide but Swans Eye dug in to win in 1:54.1.

Swans Eye is a 5-year-old mare.  She is owned by Vince Campolong and trained by Rocco Fava.  It was her third win this season and her 14th career victory

SWANS EYE REPLAY

Braxten Boyd won his first driving title at Tioga Downs.  He finished with 113 victories.  Mike Merton was second with 86 wins.  Tyler Miller (73), Aaron Byron (62), and Ridge Warren (41) rounded out the top five.

Rob Harmon topped all trainers with 51 wins.  Jeff Cullipher finished second with 43 wins.  Mike Deters (29), Erv Miller (26), and Kevin Reynolds Jr. (22) rounded out the top five.

Madam X won pacer of the year.  She had eight wins four seconds and two thirds in 15 starts.  The 3-year-old filly by Bettor’s Wish is owned by Pollack Racing and trained by Jeff Cullipher.

May Baby won trotter of the year.  May Baby is a 7-year-old mare by Guccio.  She is owned by Cheyenne Yoder and trained by Brandy Wine.  She had five wins and three seconds in 12 starts

Spittin Chicklets was the Claiming horse of the year.  The 6-year-old mare by Sportswriter had six wins, two seconds, and three thirds in 13 starts.  She is owned by Aaron Byron and trained by Jeff Byron.

Feeling American was the amateur horse of the year.  He was turned out and supposed to go back to the barn the weekend before the fire, but the owners made a last-minute decision to leave him out extra days. He was supposed to go back to the barn on that fateful Thursday morning, November 9th.  He was able to race in 5 amateur races. He had 4 wins and a second.

Tioga Downs would like to thank the fans, the horse people, and employees for a great 2024.  We will see you in 2025.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

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

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs