Tioga: Custom Cantab upsets favored mares in Joie De Vie

31-1 shot Custom Cantab navigated safely around a early incident and then wound up with an impressive first-over 1:52 win in the $132,000 Joie De Vie for mare trotters on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

The mishap occurred going into the first turn as a leaving Darling Mearas (Brian Sears) made a break, which bothered and/or caused interference breaks to several other mares, including second choice Manchego (Dexter Dunn). Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) cleared the confusion and took over command from Emoticon Hanover (Bob McClure) passing the 27 second opening quarter, with Custom Cantab (David Miller) sliding into the open three-hole from post eight.

Atlanta would go on to reach the half-mile mark in 55 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, with Custom Cantab moving first-up at the latter marker. After coming to the outside, Custom Cantab trotted right up to Atlanta, overwhelmed her on the far turn, and then drew clear in the lane, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. Dream Together (Scott Zeron), who was knocked off-stride briefly in the early chaos, recovered well for second, with Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) third. Top Expectations (Dan Dube) was fourth, Emoticon Hanover was fifth, and Atlanta retreated to sixth.

"There was a bit of interference and that made a couple of them check up and a couple of them made breaks," remarked Miller. "We just got lucky really. I landed in the three-hole and never had to move until going into the last turn. My mare, she's not a bad horse, I was hoping she would have drawn a little better, but like I said we got lucky today.

"She's been sharp, and I just thought I would give her a shot. She's been racing really good, and I thought she deserved for me to go ahead. It was so late in the mile that I went ahead and pulled her first-up. I wasn't for sure I was getting around Atlanta until I got around her."

Custom Cantab, a 4-year-old Mr Cantab mare, is co-owned by trainer Chris Beaver in partnership with Donald Robinson and R.B.H. Ventures Inc. This was her 17th career victory, and she has now pocketed $905,213. She returned $65.00 to win.