Prairie Fortune took the $12,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs for the third time in a row on Saturday, June 9.
Dragin The Wagon controlled all the early fractions, leading the field through splits of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.4. Prairie Fortune went first over from last just before the half and took over after the three-quarter pole. Owned by Laurie Poulin and trainer Mike Deters, he cruised to victory in 1:54.2. Golden Son came up to get second place. Dragin The Wagon settled for third.
The two-time defending Tioga Downs trotter of the year is a six-year-old gelding by Arapa Victory. He now has won seven races in 2018. It was his 44th trip to the winner's circle in his career. Driven by Jim Meittinis, he paid $4.20 to win.
Meittinis had two more wins on the night. He also won with Fox Valley Leo ($48.80) and Sports Authority ($7.10).
Jim Taggart Jr. won three races as well. He got wins with Rolling Sea ($6.30), Brown Titan ($10.40). His third win came with KJ Owen ($8.40) who was part of a dead heat with Tymal Vortex.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday, June 10 with a special 15-race card starting at 1:00 p.m.
The Grand Circuit comes to Tioga Downs with a leg of the Graduate Series for both pacers and trotters. There are two divisions of trotters and three division for pacers, all with a purse of $50,000 each. Also on hand are three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
(With files from Tioga Downs)