Prairie Fortune ($6.60) lived up to favoured billing in Saturday (July 2) evening's featured $11,000 Open 1 Trot at Tioga Downs, vaulting off second-over cover and sprinting clear to a 1:54.2 victory.
The four-year-old Arapa Victory gelding passed all six of his rivals, getting away last in the field of seven as Dragin The Wagon (Fern Paquet, Jr.) sprinted off to a :26.4 first quarter. After Dragin The Wagon yielded command to Kahoku (John Cummings, Jr.) with a circuit to go, Prairie Fortune commenced two-wide progress into the clubhouse turn, ultimately flushing cover from Write That Down (Dan Clements) on the backstretch into middle splits of :55.3 and 1:24.1.
As Write That Down intensified pressure on Kahoku through the far turn, Meittinis angled Prairie Fortune three-wide off the corner to sweep past. Prairie Fortune drew off comfortably while in hand, working to a 1-1/2 length winning margin. Dragin The Wagon emerged out of traffic to save second, while Write That Down was an engulfed third off his sustained first-over gains.
Trainer Mike Deters co-owns Prairie Fortune in partnership with breeder Laurie Poulin.
Corey Braden captured his 2,000th career driving win in a $4,000 trotting event, using a similar late push off the far turn with Chip Chip Page ($9.20) to eclipse pacesetter Lock N Load Annie in 2:00.3.
The Summer Claiming Series for pacers culminated as well on the nine-race card, as a resurgent Sailin Metro ($3.20) dug in off the turn to salvage his first-over bid and stave off Rebel Jet for a 1:53.2 score in the $14,000 final. Owner Dan Clements handled the driving duties for trainer Ronnie Morales, III. Clements led all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card.
Live harness racing returns to Tioga on Sunday (July 3) afternoon, with first race post time at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
(with files from Tioga)