Tui returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday night after capturing the $16,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs.
Leaving from post position number five in a field of nine, Greg Merton settled Tui in early as Macs Bad Boy (Brandon Simpson) took the field by the quarter in :27.3. As the field passed the fans and the stands for the first time, Merton moved Tui to the front and controlled the middle fractions of the race -- :56.1 and 1:24.3. Around the final turn, Tui opened up on the field with ease and cruised to victory in 1:53.2.
The win was the second in three starts this year at Tioga Downs for the five-year-old daughter of Windsongs Legacy. Don Wiest trains and co-owns Tui with Edward Kimmel of Pennsylvania.
Im Fabulous (Jim Taggart Jr.) got loose late to finish second, while Bound For Fame (Corey Braden) got third.
Merton posted a driving double on the night’s nine-race card.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, July 7twith a post time of 1:30 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)