Upsets abounded early on the Friday (June 27) evening card at Tioga Downs, with four of the first six winners returning at least 10-1 odds. In fact, two of four odds-on favourites on the 10-race card were handed defeat. However, the featured $11,000 Miracle Mile 2 distaff pace was taken by one of its 9-5 co-favourites.
Summer Snow ($5.70) took the night's top pacing event, passing all five of her rivals en route to a 1:53 victory. The striking seven-year-old grey Admirals Galley mare settled at the back of the pack early on, floating second-over to track the cover of Seascape Hanover (John Cummings, Jr.) after the pace-setting Hayworth Blue Chip (Jim Marohn, Jr.) clicked off a sharp :55.3 half-mile.
On the approach to the far turn, Mike Simons angled Summer Snow three-wide off a stalling Seascape Hanover, sustaining a push to the lead at head-stretch and edging clear to a 2-1/4 length triumph. Antigua Hanover (Brandon Simpson) saved second off a pocket trip, while Last Minute Cindy (Aaron Byron) re-rallied between rivals after traffic trouble to take third.
Trainer Jennifer Lappe co-owns Summer Snow with the Squawk Box Stable LLC.
Live racing resumes at Tioga on Saturday evening, with three-year-old pacing fillies taking center stage in a trio of New York Sire Stakes events. First post for the 13-race card is 6:15 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)