Harness driver Aaron Byron notched his 2,000th win when charging late with Elm Grove Maddy to win at Tioga Downs on Saturday (July 30).
Cheers For Chips laid all the early fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25. As they made the turn for home, Paloma Ruiz had a short lead but then Elm Grove Maddy came flying with second-place finisher Hypnotic Racer in deep Stretch. Elm Grove Maddy ($15.80) gave one last lunge and gave Byron win No. 2,000.
Abby Rose surged late to win the featured $10,000 featured fillies and mares pace.
Dont Chip Me was first to the quarter in :27.1. Georgie took over with a lap to go and led to the half in :56. Gold Star Igotdis came flying first-up down the backstretch as Abby Rose followed cover. Georgie led to three-quarters in 1:24.4.
As they made the turn for home Gold Star Igotdis took over the lead as Abby Rose made her move going three-wide and blew right on by to win in a lifetime best of 1:53.1. Gold Star Igotdis had to settle for second money. Bye Bye Michelle finished third.
Abby Rose is a four-year-old mare by Heston Blue Chip. She is owned by Mali Norbye and trained by Randy Taft. It was her fifth win this season and her tenth career victory. Jacob Cutting drove the $5 winner.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (July 31) with a 13-race card starting at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).
(Tioga Downs)