Tioga Downs’ hometown horse Aruba Vacation and Fern Paquet Jr. captured Saturday night’s $16,000 Open Trot.
Leaving from post position number three in a field of seven, Paquet put Aruba Vacation on the engine through early fractions of :27.2 and :57.1. Down the backside, Aaron Byron sent Sand Wyndham first up from third to challenge the leader through a third quarter of :28.2 reaching the three-quarters mark in 1:25.3. Around the final turn, Aruba Vacation had rebuffed all challengers and opened up by two lengths for his fourth win of the season in 1:56.
Guy Howard trains the six-year-old homebred son of Dream Vacation and Dixie Hit, who increased his career bankroll to more than $468,000 with the win.
Dont Know Chip (Jim Marohn Jr.) closed late to finish second while pocket sitting Cowgirl Hall (Gates Brunet) hung on for third.
Paquet posted four wins on the night’s 12-race card winning with Aruba Vacation, Grey Ice, Herecomesthechief and Mystical Con.
(With files from Tioga Downs)