All About Kisses Tops Open Mares
All About Kisses, driven by Mike Simons, captured Friday night’s $18,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs.
Despite having post position number nine, Simons quickly fired All About Kisses towards the front out of the gate and took control of the field past an opening quarter in :26.3. From there the duo put up honest fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.3 before easing away from her eight other rivals in 1:52.2.
The win was the third straight for the four-year-old daughter of Pro Bono Best-Cheerful Outlook, who is trained by Chuck Connor Jr. for owners Janice Connor and Albert and Michelle Crawford. All About Kisses' seasonal earnings increased to more than $60,000 as she notched her sixth win in 13 starts this year.
Forty Three (Jim Meittinis) paced home late off of cover to finish second while Runaway Tray (Fern Paquet Jr.) used a two-hole trip to hang on for third.
Simons posted a driving grand slam on the night’s 10-race card while Lewayne Miller enjoyed a driving triple.
(With files from Tioga Downs)