K Js Caroline came out of the clouds to win the $9,000 fillies and mares feature at Tioga Downs on Friday (June 1), giving driver Mike Merton his fifth win on the night.
Milky Way Rae (Aaron Byron) led the group into a first quarter of :26.4. Ask Queenie (Jim Taggart Jr.) then took over before hitting the half in :55.3 and raced on to three-quarters in 1:23.4. It looked like a two-horse race in the stretch between Ask Queenie and Milky Way Rae, but K Js Caroline, who was last of all after three-quarters, swooped by them all in the stretch to win by a nose in 1:53. Ask Queenie settled for second and Milky Way Rae was third.
Owned by Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger, K Js Caroline is an eight-year-old mare sired by Roddys Bags Again. The win was her third of the season and marked her 41st trip to the winner's circle lifetime. She returned $15.80 to win.
Merton won four more races on the night with Commentary ($3.60), Sailer Eddie ($10.60), Sandy Sue ($7.30), and Rustys Flying ($10,60).
For Rustys Flying (sired by Artiscape), it was her fifth straight win. Owned and trained by Monica Banco, she is four-for-four at Tioga Downs this season.
Live racing resumes at Tioga Downs on Saturday (June 2) with an 11-race card starting at 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)