Tui shipped into Tioga Downs for the first time this year on Saturday night and captured the featured $16,000 Open Handicap Trot.
Leaving from post position number three in a field of seven, Greg Merton settled Tui in second behind Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) as the field reached the quarter in :27.1. From there, Paquet controlled the fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.3 and as the field rounded the final turn Merton edged Tui out of the pocket and to the outside. Down the stretch, Tui struck the front, but would have one final push from Flex The Muscle (Phil Fluet). She managed to hang on though by half a length for the win in 1:54.
The victory was the third in 10 seasonal starts for the five-year-old daughter of Windsongs Legacy, who is trained and co-owned by Donald Wiest with Edward Kimmel.
Flex The Muscle (Phil Fluet) finished second, while Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) hung on for third.
In the fillies and mares Miracle Mile II Pace, Tracys Song came to Tioga Downs putting her 18-race win streak on the line. Out of the gate, the mare found herself in an unusual spot sitting third through some swift fractions of :27.1 and :56.1. As the field reached the half-mile mark, Merton pulled Tracys Song first over, but could not even move into the second position and faded badly through the last quarter-mile to finish ninth as the 6-5 betting favourite in a field of nine. The race was won by Kendyl and Aaron Byron in 1:53.2 from the nine-hole and returned $72 for the win.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, June 16 with a post time of 1:30 p.m. featuring the Historic Stakes for three-year-olds.
(With files from Tioga Downs)