Matai Phil N powers to career best performance

Matai Phil N (Braxten Boyd) captures the $11,500 featured pace at Tioga Downs on Sunday (June 7).

Matai Phil N ($3.14) went to the front and led to the first quarter in :27.0.  He slowed things down with a :29.1 second quarter and was in command to the half in :56.1.  Hothooves N (Colin Kelly) was first to make a move going first-over down the backstretch.  Matai Phil N shook him off and was first to three quarters in 1:23.3.

As they reached the stretch second place finisher Cruzen America (Mike Merton) popped out of the pocket and gave everything he had but Matai Phil N held him off to win in a lifetime best of 1:51.0.  Always B Elvis (Jim Pantaleasno) finished third.

MATAI PHIL REPLAY

Matai Phil N is a 6-year-old gelding by Washington VC.  He is owned by the Durazzano Stable and trained by Agostino Abbatiello.  It was win number three this season.  He now has 10 career victories.

Colin Kelly and Braxten Boyd drove three winners on the card.  James Kennedy had a driving doubles.  Bruce Clarke and Enrico Robinson had training doubles.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Friday (June 12) with starting at 6:15 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs