by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
Upsets abounded early on the Friday (June 27) evening card
at Tioga Downs, with four of the first six winners returning at least 10-1
odds. In fact, two of four odds-on favorites on the 10-race card were
handed defeat. However, the featured $11,000 Miracle Mile 2 distaff pace
was taken by one of its 9-5 co-favorites.
Summer Snow ($5.70) took the night's top pacing event,
passing all five of her rivals en route to a 1:53 victory. The striking
seven-year-old grey Admirals Galley mare settled at the back of the pack early
on, floating second-over to track the cover of Seascape Hanover (John Cummings,
Jr.) after the pace-setting Hayworth Blue Chip (Jim Marohn, Jr.) clicked off a
sharp :55.3 half-mile. On the approach to the far turn, Mike Simons
angled Summer Snow three-wide off a stalling Seascape Hanover, sustaining a
push to the lead at head-stretch and edging clear to a 2-1/4 length triumph.
Antigua Hanover (Brandon Simpson) saved second off a pocket trip, while
Last Minute Cindy (Aaron Byron) re-rallied between rivals after traffic trouble
to take third.
Trainer Jennifer Lappe co-owns Summer Snow with the Squawk
Box Stable, LLC.
Live racing resumes at Tioga on Saturday (June 28) evening,
with three-year-old pacing fillies taking center stage in a trio of New York
Sire Stakes events. First post for the 13-race pari-mutuel card is
scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (EDT).
