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Saturday, June 25, 2016

Drea's Good Powow circles top Tioga distaffers


Nichols, N.Y. -- Despite sitting last a quarter mile from home, Drea's Good Powow had enough late pace to circle her six rivals in Friday (June 24) evening's $11,000 Mares Open Handicap at Tioga Downs.

Trainer-driver James Hysell wanted no part of the early pace with the 6-year-old daughter of Squaw's Fella, settling second from last as Asset Management (Fern Paquet, Jr.) and Four Hour Nap (Jim Meittinis) alternated on the lead through early splits of :26.4 and :56.2. As Four Hour Nap faced intensifying pressure from K J's Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.) Hysell moved Drea's Good Powow fourth-over from the rear of the field. Drea's Good Powow swung five-wide off the far turn, circling the entire group in the final 150 yards as the pacesetting pair dueled into defeat. Goldstar Rockette (Corey Braden) finished second from a perfect second-over trip, while lukewarm 5-2 favorite Shutthefrontdoor (Dan Clements) stayed on for third from third-over.

Patricia Connor owns Drea's Good Powow, now a 17-time winner.

Trainer Shane Arsenault scored a hat trick on the nine-race card, accounting for victories from Mittnage a Trois ($3.70, Scott Coulter, 1:55.4), Artiawitchtoyou ($5.30, Brandon Arsenault, 1:54.2), and Crazy Blue ($6.00, Coulter, 1:58.1).

The 50¢ Pick 5 evaded the Friday players, chiefly due to a 20-1 upset from Vacation Day (Tyler Freese) in the sequence. The carryover mounts to $700.78 for Saturday's Pick 5.

Post time for the first of 10 races on Saturday's Tioga card is 6:30 p.m. Eastern.