Tioga Downs: Sophomore pacers race in Geers splits

Three-year-old pacers of both sexes were in action in Geers Stakes divisions on Friday night at Tioga Downs.

Winston (Corey Callahan) turned in the quickest mile in the colt flights, winning the second $24,900 grouping on the front-end in 1:50 1/5. It was the sixth lifetime win for the Western Ideal gelding, trained by John Butenschoen for owner Crawford Farms Racing. He paid $7.10 to win as a 5-2 offering.

Back in the first $24,900 flight for the colt pacers, Rockapelo (Jim Morrill Jr.) worked out a pocket trip and came on in the lane to win in 1:50 2/5. Trained by Linda Toscano for owner/breeder Enviro Stables Ltd., Rockapelo picked up his sixth lifetime victory. He returned $10.80 to win after being dispatched at 4-1.

Meadowlands Pace eligible Thinkbig Dreambig (Jimmy Takter) won his fourth straight race in the last $25,400 split for the colts. He came first-up, took the lead in the lane, and held safe to the wire, stopping the clock in 1:52 2/5. Unraced at two, the Bettor's Delight colt is owned by Brixton Medical Inc., John Fielding, Goran Anderberg, and Goran Falk. The winner of the Escort Series at the Meadowlands, Thinkbig Dreambig paid $3.40 to win as the favorite.

Over on the filly side, it was Jewels Forreal (Matt Kakaley) taking the fastest clocking after winning the first $23,500 section in 1:51. Positioned fifth for the first three-quarters of the mile, she rallied off cover in the lane to win, lowering her lifetime mark by over four seconds. A So Surreal filly, Jewels Forreal is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She is now a five-time winner in her career, and she returned $3.00 to win racing as part of a 1-2 favored entry.

The second $23,500 race for fillies went to a front-stepping Ask Me Ifi Care (Mike Micallef), as she backed up an impressive 1:52 2/5 win in her last start against overnight company at The Meadows with a 1:52 1/5 time in this race. Micallef also trains the winning daughter of Manhardt for owners Anita Micallef and Libby Myers. Ask Me Ifi Care visited the winner's circle for the fourth time, and she paid $9.20 to win as a 7-2 shot.

Cuts Like A Knife gave Corey Callahan another Geers winner and pulled the biggest upset of the night in the final $23,500 dash for the fillies as she rallied off a second-over trip to a 1:52 4/5 victory. A filly by A Rocknroll Dance, Cuts Like A Knife is trained by Bruce Saunders for owners Charles, Julie, and Francene Nash. Cuts Like A Knife scored her fourth lifetime win, and she paid $23.00 to win after being sent off at 10-1.