Vernon invader A Penny Earned ($6.80) employed a change of tactics on Friday (May 20) evening at Tioga Downs, stalking cover and lunging to the line for a 1:55.3 triumph in the featured $11,000 Open Trot.

After a slow start, Mike Simons pointed the seven-year-old Conway Hall gelding second-over on the backstretch, drafting with the live cover of Its Payday Friday (Dan Clements) after Lucid Thoughts (Tom Jackson) rated a :57 initial half. The favoured pacesetter accelerated en route to the far turn, reaching three-quarters completion in 1:25.3, but he would ultimately be headed off the far turn by the steadily advancing Its Payday Friday. A Penny Earned angled off cover at head-stretch, battling to a half-length win in the last yards. Its Payday Friday held second narrowly over B L Class Act (John Cummings Jr.), who mounted a stand-side rally after being shuffled to last on the far turn.

Trainer George Ducharme co-owns A Penny Earned with partners Alfred Ross, Paul Fontaine, and Nicola Oliva.

Jeffrey Long and Jim Taggart Jr. both recorded driving doubles on the eight-race card.

(With files from Tioga Downs)