Despite sitting last a quarter-mile from home, Dreas Good Powow had enough late pace to circle her six rivals in Friday (June 24) evening's $11,000 Mares Open Handicap at Tioga Downs.
Trainer/driver James Hysell wanted no part of the early pace with the six-year-old daughter of Squaws Fella, settling second from last as Asset Management (Fern Paquet Jr.) and Four Hour Nap (Jim Meittinis) alternated on the lead through early splits of :26.4 and :56.2. As Four Hour Nap faced intensifying pressure from K Js Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.), Hysell moved Dreas Good Powow fourth-over from the rear of the field. Dreas Good Powow swung five-wide off the far turn, circling the entire group in the final 150 yards as the pacesetting pair duelled into defeat. Goldstar Rockette (Corey Braden) finished second from a perfect second-over trip, while lukewarm 5-2 favourite Shutthefrontdoor (Dan Clements) stayed on for third from third-over.
Patricia Connor owns Dreas Good Powow, now a 17-time winner.
Trainer Shane Arsenault scored a hat trick on the nine-race card, accounting for victories from Mittnage A Trois ($3.70, Scott Coulter, 1:55.4), Artiawitchtoyou ($5.30, Brandon Arsenault, 1:54.2), and Crazy Blue ($6.00, Coulter, 1:58.1).
The 50-cent Pick 5 evaded the Friday players, chiefly due to a 20-1 upset from Vacation Day (Tyler Freese) in the sequence. The carryover mounts to $700.78 for Saturday's Pick 5.
Post time for the first of 10 races on Saturday's Tioga card is 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
(Tioga Downs)