Soft Shot made a successful Tioga Downs debut, winning the $20,714 Fillies & Mares Open Pace on Friday, July 10.

Illusion Seelster was guided to the front in the early going by Braxten Boyd and led at the quarter in :26.2 and through the half in :55. Driver Kyle Swift made his move with Soft Shot out of third going down the backstretch and the even-money favourite took a short lead as they hit three-quarters in 1:22.1. As the mares made the turn for home, the Tioga newcomers Illusion Seelster and Soft Shot raced side by side with the latter mare drawing one length clear at the end of the 1:51 mile. Last week's Open winner, Fashion Terror, finished third in rein to Greg Merton.

Soft Shot, who had five prior wins in her first 17 starts of the year competing the top distaff class at Saratoga Raceway, is trained by Jaymes McAssey and owned by Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs, New York. The five-year-old mare by Heston Blue Chip out of Aims Whisper now has 25 career victories and more than $600,000 in purse earnings.

Ridge Warren drove five winners on Friday's 14-race card. He won with a pair of Gary Gibson trainees, She B Crazy and HC Commander, as well as Artic Thunder for the Michelle Warner stable, Ima Happy Fella GB for trainer Brittany Clarke and Kissapotamus for Dustin Miller. 

Harness racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday, July 11 with post time at 6:15 p.m. Fireworks will follow live racing.

(With files from Tioga Downs)