Northern Courtney ($2.20) and driver Mike Simons won the $25,000 M&J Oil Lube Trotting Series final for three-year-old fillies at Tioga Downs on Saturday night (May 20).
The three-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe filly marched out to the lead and never relinquished it. Trained by John Butenschoen, Northern Courtney was followed by Seven Magic Words (Tom Jackson), who road the pocket the entire way to finish second.
Northern Courtney earned her third straight win with a career-best 1:55 effort. However, she was not the fastest three-year-old trotting filly tonight. That honour went to Barn Bella ($3.10), who won the $10,000 Open II Trot in rein to Jim Taggart Jr. The Conway Hall filly trained by Steven Pratt equalled the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies of 1:54. The 2016 New York Sire Stakes champion is now three-for-three in 2017.
The $12,000 Open I Trot was won by four-year-old gelding Roundtown Rocker ($14.40) and Simons in 1:53.4.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday (May 21) at 1 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)