Mata breaks tie in Pinnacle standings

Freddie Mata broke through a three-way tie to take command of the jockeys' race at Pinnacle Race Course when he posted a riding triple Tuesday. Mata, Ricardo Barrios, and Jeffrey Skerrett had started the day tied with 29 wins.

Mata opened the card winning aboard two favorites.

Itsaffirmed ($4.20) won by nearly four lengths over a field reduced to four starters. Sandra Adkins trains Itsaffirmed for Charlie Williams. Mata then led all the way on owner John Haran's Chicago invader Twntyonejohnstreet ($3.20) to complete a miserly $9.60 daily double. Frank Kirby is the trainer of Twntyonejohnstreet, who won by 6 1/2 lengths.

Sunday Liberty ($6.40) was up late to win the sixth race under Mata for trainer Ronnie Allen. The win was Mata's 32nd of the meet.

Skerrett had one win Tuesday to hold second place, while Barrios, ahead for most of the meet, traveled to Mountaineer Park to pick up a win on Lady Redchecks and a second on Guns and Giggles for trainer John Rupert and owner Tom Vanderhyde.

* Past Michigan champion Weatherstorm ($6.40) looked like his old self when he won his first race at Pinnacle Race Course on Tuesday. The 6-year-old Island Storm gelding, a multiple stakes winner at Great Lakes Downs, was a going-away winner under Skerrett. It was leading trainer Robert Gorham's 29th win through 23 days of racing.

* Pinnacle valet John Flowers, who raised money last week for the American Cancer Society with a show at Pinnacle starring his dog, Spencer Lococo, has been invited to be on the "Live with Regis and Kelly" show in New York. Flowers, a cancer survivor, and Spencer Lococo are scheduled to appear on the show with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on Monday, July 27. Flowers and Spencer Lococo were champions on the Animal Planet show "Pet Star." Thedog performs balancing acts, including standing on a broomstick held above the ground.