Nichols, N.Y. -- Prairie Fortune ($6.60) lived up to favored
billing in Saturday (July 2) evening's featured $11,000 Open 1 Trot at Tioga
Downs, vaulting off second-over cover and sprinting clear to a 1:54.2 victory.
The 4-year-old Arapa Victory gelding passed all six of his
rivals, getting away last in the field of seven as Dragin the Wagon (Fern
Paquet, Jr.) sprinted off to a :26.4 first quarter. After Dragin the Wagon
yielded command to Kahoku (John Cummings, Jr.) with a circuit to go, Prairie Fortune
commenced two-wide progress inot the clubhouse turn, ultimately flushing cover
from Write That Down (Dan Clements) on the backstretch into middle splits of
:55.3 and 1:24.1. As Write That Down intensified pressure on Kahoku through the
far turn, Meittinis angled Prairie Fortune three-wide off the corner to sweep
past. Prairie Fortune drew off comfortably while in hand, working to a 1-1/2
length winning margin. Dragin the Wagon emerged out of traffic to save second,
while Write That Down was an engulfed third off his sustained first-over gains.
Trainer Mike Deters co-owns Prairie Fortune in partnership
with breeder Laurie Poulin.
Corey Braden captured his 2,000th career driving win in a
$4,000 trotting event, using a similar late push off the far turn with Chip
Chip Page ($9.20) to eclipse pacesetter Lock N Load Annie in 2:00.3.
The Summer Claiming Series for pacers culminated as well on
the nine-race card, as a resurgent Sailin Metro ($3.20) dug in off the turn to
salvage his first-over bid and stave off Rebel Jet for a 1:53.2 score in the
$14,000 final. Owner Dan Clements handled the driving duties for trainer Ronnie
Morales, III. Clements led all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card.
Live racing returns to Tioga on Sunday (July 3) afternoon,
with post time at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
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