Kruella (Mike Simons) charged late in the stretch to win theTioga Downs Fillies and Mares Open Handicap ($11,000) on Friday (June 22).
K J's Caroline (Mike Merton) went right to the front and controlled all the early fractions (:26.1, :56.0, 1:24.0).
Kruella ($8.40) was fourth after three-quarters. Owned by Two Gals Stable LLC., and trained by Jineen Simone, she used a sweeping three-wide move to blow by to win in a lifetime best time of 1:52.2. A Wish For Wings (Fern Paquet Jr.) charged home late to finish second. K J's Caroline hung on for third.
Kruela is a 6-year-old mare by American Ideal. She is two for two this season and she secured career win number 34.
Aaron Byron leads all drivers in wins so far this season with 26. Jim Taggart Jr is second with 24 victories with Jim Meittis in third with 23 tallies. Mike Merton is fourth with 21 times to the winner's circle. Last year's driving champion, Mike Simons rounds out the top five with 16 wins.
Tioga Downs was blessed with a flyover during tonight's National Anthem by 3 T6 Texans. They will be at the air show sponsored by Tioga Downs at the Greater Binghamton Airshow at the Greater Binghamton Airport from 12-4 on Saturday (June 23).
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday with a 12 race card starting at 6:15 p.m.
For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com
