The feature on the Saturday, May 25 card of harness racing at Tioga Downs was the $20,548 Open Trot with May Baby the best on this occasion.
May Baby ($6.20) and driver Braxten Boyd were first to the quarter in :27.2. Joxter (Tyler Miller) went first-up heading around the clubhouse turn and challenged for the lead. May Baby, however, led to the half in :57.4 and he continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:25.2. As the field reached the stretch, City Of Hope (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) popped the pocket and went all out after the leader, but May Baby dug in and won in 1:54.2. City Of Hope had to settle for second, with Crossfit Mouse (Corey Braden) completing the top trio.
May Baby is a seven-year-old mare by Guccio, trained by Brandy Wine for owner Cheyenne Yoder. The win was her fifth in a dozen starts this year and she now sports 29 career victories with $765,997 in earnings.
Boyd connected for a grand slam on the night; his other wins were with Eternally Hanover, Kaleun and Homer Hall (this one was also with trainer Brandy Wine).
Live harness racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday, May 26 with a 10-race card starting at 1 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)