by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
racing media
Somenicebeach repeats in
Tioga distaff feature
Nichols, N.Y. -- Making her
push to the fore on the backstretch yet again, Somenicebeach ($3.20) reeled off
her second consecutive victory in Friday (June 12) evening's $14,000 Mares Open
Pace at Tioga Downs.
The 4-year-old daughter of
Somebeachsomewhere was only better than one of her four rivals in the early
stages of the race, settling well behind pacesetter Senorita Santanna (John
Cummings, Jr.) through a :55.2 initial half mile. On the backstretch, Mike
Simons angled Somenicebeach off the pegs, and she made steady ground, taking a
narrow lead from Senorita Santanna through three-quarters in 1:23.3.
Senorita Santanna would fight back on the far turn, but was ultimately put away
by Somenicebeach at head-stretch. Stormunn (Aaron Byron) angled off the
pegs to chase off her pocket trip, but could only close to within a length of
Somenicebeach, a 1:52.3 winner over good going.
Sophie Desroches owns and
trains Somenicebeach, who earned her 11th career win. Simons scored a
driving hat trick on the evening, also teaming up with Maejusmac ($5.70,
1:52.2) and Prince Jubilee ($32.20, 1:54) earlier in the nine-race card.
Live racing returns to Tioga
Downs on Saturday (June 13) evening, with the first race slated for a 6:15 p.m.
Eastern post time.
