Lady Saturn rolled first-up bending into the last turn and closed gamely to capture the $17,606 Fillies and Mares Open II Pace on Thursday, July 30 at Tioga Downs.
Big favourite Ambushed (Braxten Boyd) pushed to the lead in a :27.4 quarter and led to the half in :56.4. Lady Saturn, driven by Brett Crawford, made her move from fourth and raced up to the leader's withers at three-quarters in 1:25.1. As they made the turn for home, Lady Saturn wrestled the lead away, and she held off a late charge by Illusion Seelster (Kyle Swift) by a length to win in 1:53. Elegant A (Ridge Warren) was third best.
Lady Saturn's win was her second this year in 12 starts for trainer Michelle Crawford and owner-breeder Dragon Tales Farm Inc. The five-year-old Huntsville-P Note Blue Chip mare is 15-for-69 lifetime. She paid $11.08 to win.
Driver Braxten Boyd won five of the nine races on the card. The “Michigan Missile” was first with Escape The House ($6.76), Filet Mignon ($22.60), Pink Lumiere ($2.34), Blue Point ($3.32) and Celia B Money ($4.22). Boyd has racked up 74 wins at Tioga this year to lead the drivers' standings as he aims to repeat as the track's top reinsman.
Live racing continues at Tioga on Friday, starting at 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)