Tioga: Splash Brother nets Empire Breeders Classic title

Splash Brother capitalized on a second-over trip to win the $240,600 Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Driven by Tyler Buter from the pole position, Splash Brother took back to fifth at the start while Genius Man (Marcus Miller), Save Me A Dance (Jason Bartlett), and Groovy Joe (Matt Kakaley) all showed speed. Save Me Dance worked his way around Genius Man for the lead before the 26 1/5 opening quarter, but Groovy Joe pushed on two-wide and cleared after that marker.

Blank Stare (Corey Callahan) was sent first-over from the fourth position racing to the 54 4/5 half-mile point, and that gave Splash Brother the cover he was looking for. Major Betts (Dexter Dunn), who got away in sixth from a trailing post ten, jumped out to track Splash Brother from third-over. Groovy Joe was able to hold serve over a threatening Blank Stare at the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters, but Splash Brother began a three-wide move just prior to that station, and Major Betts continued to stalk him.

After pulling the trigger, Splash Brother surged up quickly to make it a three-way fight for the top spot at the midway point of the bend, but coming off the turn Splash Brother showed an advantage over Blank Stare while Groovy Joe dropped out of contention. Through the stretch Blank Stare tried to fight on, but Splash Brother was too tough, and he pulled clear to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:50. Major Betts came on to get second over Blank Stare, with Uhtred (Andrew McCarthy) fourth and Genius Man back in fifth.

Ray Schnittker trains Splash Brother, a gelding by So Surreal, and he also co-owns him with partners Nolamaura Racing LLC., Steven Arnold, and Tammy Flannery. Splash Brother didn't win in seven starts a season ago, but he has four victories from seven chances in 2020, and he pushed his career earnings to $250,095. He was the 7-2 third choice and paid $9.30 to win.