Kruella (Mike Simons) charged late in the stretch to capture Friday’s $11,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap at Tioga Downs.
K Js Caroline (Mike Merton) went right to the front and set fractions of :26.1, :56 and 1:24. Kruella ($8.40) was fourth after three-quarters, and from there she used a sweeping three-wide move to blow by to win in a lifetime best time of 1:52.2. A Wish For Wings (Fern Paquet, Jr.) charged home late to finish second. K Js Caroline hung on for third.
Owned by Two Gals Stable LLC., and trained by Jineen Simone, Kruella is a six-year-old mare by American Ideal. She is two for two this season and she secured career win number 34.
Aaron Byron leads all drivers in wins so far this season with 26. Jim Taggart, Jr. is second with 24 victories with Jim Meittinis in third with 23 tallies. Mike Merton is fourth with 21 times to the winner's circle. Last year's driving champion, Mike Simons rounds out the top five with 16 wins.
Tioga Downs was blessed with a flyover during tonight's National Anthem by three T6 Texans. They will be at the air show sponsored by Tioga Downs at the Greater Binghamton Airshow at the Greater Binghamton Airport from 12-4 on Saturday.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday with a 12-race card starting at 6:15 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)