Making her push to the fore on the backstretch yet again, Somenicebeach ($3.20) reeled off her second consecutive victory in Friday (June 12) evening's $14,000 Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs.
The four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was only better than one of her four rivals in the early stages of the race, settling well behind pacesetter Senorita Santanna (John Cummings Jr.) through a :55.2 initial half-mile. On the backstretch, Mike Simons angled Somenicebeach off the pegs, and she made steady ground, taking a narrow lead from Senorita Santanna through three-quarters in 1:23.3. Senorita Santanna would fight back on the far turn, but was ultimately put away by Somenicebeach at head-stretch. Stormunn (Aaron Byron) angled off the pegs to chase off her pocket trip, but could only close to within a length of Somenicebeach, a 1:52.3 winner over "good" going.
Sophie Desroches of Mascouche, Que. owns and trains Somenicebeach, who earned her 11th career win.
Simons scored a driving hat trick on the evening, also teaming up with Maejusmac ($5.70, 1:52.2) and Prince Jubilee ($32.20, 1:54) earlier in the nine-race card.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (June 13) evening, with the first race slated for a 6:15 p.m. Eastern post time.
(With files from Tioga Downs)