Miss Flora (Corey Braden) flew late to steal the $9,000 featured trot at Tioga Downs on Sunday (Sept. 1).
Campbellini (Wally Hennessey) took control right out of the gate, setting splits of :27.2 and :56.4. Jack Rules (Andy Santeramo) came first-over on the backstretch and pressured Campbellini to the three-quarter mark in 1:24.3. Rose Run Rudi (Aaron Byron) squeezed through an opening in the stretch to sneak past Campbellini.
Miss Flora ($13.60), who is owned and trained by Mario Dessureault, found an opening and went wide down the stretch. She looked like her tail was on fire as she flew home to nip Rose Run Rudi in 1:54.2. Campbellini had to settle for third.
Miss Flora is a seven-year-old mare by SJs Caviar. It was her fifth win this season and the 26th of her career.
Wally Hennessey drove three winners on the day, teaming up with Rocknroll Captain ($5.20), Fashion Dragon ($5.10) and L Dees Courageous ($3.60). Mike Merton, Aaron Byron and Mike Simons each had driving doubles on the afternoon.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs with a special Labor Day matinee (Sept. 2), featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for pacing colts and geldings. The 12-race card starts at 1 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)