Little Santamonica and driver Aaron Byron posted a 10-1 upset victory in Friday night’s $16,000 Fillies & Mares Miracle Mile 1 at Tioga Downs.
Byron and Little Santamonica got away fourth in a field of six from post position number one as Prairie Lee (Jim Meittinis) moved to the front by the opening quarter in :27.4.
As the field went by the half-mile mark of the race in :56.2, Keith Kamann moved last week’s winner, Hot List, first over to battle Prairie Lee down the backside and the duo went by three-quarters in 1:23.3.
Around the final turn, Byron tipped Little Santamonica three-wide off Kamann’s helmet and surged to the front in the stretch, holding off a late charge by Brownsville Bomber (Fern Paquet Jr.) to win by a quarter length in 1:52.2.
The mile equalled the lifetime mark for the five-year-old daughter of Little Steven, who is owned by Kelly Dawn Hope and trained by Jordan Hope.
Byron and Fern Paquet Jr. each posted driving triples on the night’s nine-race card.
(With files from Tioga Downs)