Miss Flora (Corey Braden) comes flying late to steal the $9,000 featured trot at Tioga Downs on Sunday (September 1).
Campbellini (Wally Hennessey) took control right out of the gate. He put in a first quarter of :27.2 with the half in :56.4. Jack Rules (Andy Santeramo) came first-over on the backstretch and pressured Campbellini to the three-quarter mark in 1:24.3. Rose Run Rudi (Aaron Byron) squeezed through an opening in the stretch to sneak past Campbellini.
Miss Flora ($13.60), who is owned and trained by Mario Dessureault. found an opening and went wide down the stretch. She looked like her tail was on fire as she came flying in deep stretch to nip second place finisher Rose Run Rudi in 1:54.2. Campbellini had to settle for third.
Miss Flora is a 7-year-old mare by SJ's Caviar. It was her fifth win this season. She has 26 career victories.
Wally Hennessey drove three winners on the day. He got wins with Rocknroll Captain ($5.20), Fashion Dragon ($5.10), and L Dees Courageous ($3.60). Mike Merton, Aaron Byron, and Mike Simons each had driving doubles on the afternoon. Merton had wins with Whip N Neigh Neigh ($6.70), and BJ Lorado ($4.40). Byron got his victories with Court's N Session ($13.60), and Phoenician ($13.80). Simons won the last two races of the day with Eldorado Of Gold S ($5.50), and Cayenne Victory ($2.60).
Tioga Downs returns to live racing with a special Labor Day matinee (September 2) featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for pacing colt & geldings. The 12 race card starts at 1:00 p.m.
For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.