Tioga: Top-ranked Gimpanzee headlines huge stakes card Sunday

Tioga Downs will host an exciting day of Grand Circuit stakes racing on Sunday, August 16 with nearly a half-million in purses offered to many of North America's top Standardbreds.

The Crawford Farms Open Trotting Stake will see 10 of the finest older trotters battle for a purse of $220,000 led by last week's Cashman Memorial winner Gimpanzee, who currently sits atop the Top 10 Poll.

Trotting mares will compete in the $133,000 Joie De Vie with Manchego seeking to avenge her loss in the Steele Memorial, taking on new rival When Dovescry.

Shartin N defends her Artiscape crown, facing six talented rivals for $129,000.

The Empire Breeders Classic 3-year-old pacing stakes saw 13 fillies enter and will require a pair of $12,500 elimination races on Sunday, August 16. The top nine will return next Sunday for the $223,450 final.

The EBC Colt pace drew 10 horses and per the stakes conditions will require no elimination. All 10 colts will race in the final next Sunday, August 23 for a purse of $240,600.

The colt stake was drawn today:

1. Splash Brother T. Buter R. Schnittker

2. Genius Man M. Miller E. Miller

3. Roll With JR T. Buter J. Cullipher

4. Save Me A Dance J. Bartlett A. Harris

5. Untred J. Morrill C. Auciello

6. Blank Stare C. Callahan J. Butenschoen

7. Groovy Joe M. Kakaley B. MacIntosh

8. Ideal Perception J. Bartlett A. Harris

9. Tint Of Mint TBA J. Byron

10. Major Betts D. Dunn M. Harder

-edited release (Tioga)