Tioga Downs will kick off its 12th season of live racing this Saturday (May 6) at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card.

The first race is the featured Open Trot. Last year’s trotter of the year, Prairie Fortune, will once again team up with last year’s top trainer (Mike Deters).

Five-year-old gelding Arapa Victory – who cruised to 12 victories at Tioga last year – is driven by Jim Meittinis. He has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite and will start from Post 3 in the competitive opener.

The Gary Messenger-trained Warrawee Preferred will start from Post 4. With already three wins on the season, the six-year-old Federal Flex gelding seems to be coming into prime form. Jimmy Taggert Jr. will be between the wheels for the 3-1 morning line co-second choice. The other main rival will be Dragin the Wagon. The seven-year-old gelding is coming off an impressive win at Yonkers. Trained by Jeffrey Byron and driven by Aaron Byron, Dragin the Wagon has won $209,503 in his career. Starting from Post 5, he is also a morning line 3-1 choice.

Race 3 will feature three-year-old fillies in the first leg of the M&J Oil & Lube Trot. Northern Courtney is the 6-5 morning line favourite. The Deweycheatumnhowe filly is coming off a win at Pocono Downs. She is trained by John Butenschoen and piloted by Mike Simons from Post 3. The entry of Crazy Smart (to be driven by Scott Coulter) and Jenns Dew Drop (Renaldo Morales III), trained by Michael Sinclair, is the morning line second choice.

Saturday is also Derby Day with a t-shirt and calendar giveaway plus a Derby Hat contest and much more. The day will end with a bang, with a fireworks display right after the races have been completed.

(Tioga Downs)