Spain sweeps Amateur events
Mike Simons settled the 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare off pacesetters Tipitina (Corey Braden) and K J's Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.), tracking loosely through a :56.3 half mile before commencing a first-over bid with three-eighths remaining. Somenicebeach responded instantly once Simons moved her off the pegs, accelerating after Tipitina through a :27.3 third quarter before edging clear on the far turn. A length in front at the eighth pole, Somenicebeach was driven out to hold clear, staving off a stout late charge from Mach It a Par (Dan Clements) for a 1:51.3 victory. K J's Caroline held third off her tracking trip.
Owner Sophie Desroches trains Somenicebeach, now a 10-time winner.
Earlier in the program, a quartet of Spanish amateur drivers competed against a group of their American counterparts, with Agustin Mascaro and Jaume Bassa notching a pair of victories for the visiting team. Mascaro controlled the pace with My Sweet Mandy ($13.40) in a 1:55.2 win in the opener over the blind-switched Puff Mommy (Bernardo Jaume) and Diamonds Princess (Bassa), while Bassa came back to win the second with Simaz ($4.30), rating sensible fractions before staving off a late charge from Nowerland Nathan (Jaume) and far-turn pressure from Sand Wyndham (Miquel Vich).
Live racing returns to Tioga on Saturday evening, with the first of nine live races scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time, shortly following the simulcast of the 147th Belmont Stakes.
by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
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