In the Friday night $18,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs, Freedom Crossing and Mike Micallef turned a pocket trip into a victory for trainer Kevin Efimetz

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Leaving from post position number five, Freedom Crossing left strongly to take control of the field past an opening panel of :27.2. The heavy favourite McFlirty and Ed Hensley quickly surged to the front from third and led the field of six through fractions of :56 and 1:24.3. Around the final turn, Micallef pulled Freedom Crossing out of the pocket and surged by the leader in the lane to win in 1:53.

It was the sixth win in 16 starts for the four-year-old daughter of Artiscape-Bunker To Bunker, who with the victory increased her seasonal earnings to more than $60,000.

McFlirty (Ed Hensley) hung on for second, while Penny Pincher (Corey Braden) turned a rail ride into a third place finish.

Jimmy Marohn Jr. posted a driving triple on the evening’s twelve race card, while Phil Fluet and Mike Micallef each recorded doubles.

Tioga Downs continues live racing on Saturday, August 27 at 6:50 p.m.

(Tioga Downs)