Nichols, N.Y. -- Prairie Fortune ($4.10) stalked second-over
cover en route to his third straight Open win in Saturday (July 30) evening's
$11,000 featured trotting event at Tioga Downs.
The 4-year-old Arapa Victory gelding once again raced from
off the pace, settling last but one in the initial stages as early pacesetter
Dragin the Wagon (Fern Paquet, Jr.) yielded to Its Payday Friday (Ronnie
Morales, III) after a :29 first quarter. Its Payday Friday accelerated mildly
upon taking charge, forced to maintain that acceleration by the first-over
Rossini (Scott Coulter) through a :57.1 middle half.
Rossini kept the pressure on in earnest through the far
turn, and Prairie Fortune geared up upon cornering as he did in his two
previous wins. Jim Meittinis worked Prairie Fortune to the fore just in time,
prevailing by a neck over Dragin the Wagon--who re-emerged from the pocket--in
1:56.1 over sloppy going. Its Payday Friday was a worn-down third.
Trainer Mike Deters co-owns Prairie Fortune with Laurie
Poulin.
In the $13,000 Summer Claiming Series final for pacing
mares, Juxta Antz Pantz held sway for a 10-1 upset over Delta Dawn Hanover in
1:55.4. Kyle DiBenedetto vacated the pocket with the 4-year-old Four Starzzz
Shark mare with a circuit to go to control the terms, ultimately held clear of
the late-rallying Delta Dawn Hanover (Jim Taggart, Jr.) by a length. My Sweet
Mandy (John Cummings, Jr.) rallied from far off the pace to take third, missing
by 1-3/4 lengths. Daniel Gill trains Juxta Antz Pantz for owner Adam Friedland.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday (July 31)
afternoon, with the first of 12 races due off at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
