Harness racing opens for the season at Tioga Downs. (Photo by Wendy Post)
On Saturday, a packed house gathered for the opening day of harness racing at Tioga Downs Casino. Derby Day, held in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby, offered an afternoon and evening filled with racing entertainment, live music, food and flair.
For harness racing fans, the first race of the Tioga Downs 2017 season was the $12,000 Open Trot. The front running favorite Dragin the Wagon(Aaron Byron) would lead the field all the way until deep stretch.
The first harness race for the season.
Warrawee Preferred (Jim Taggart Jr.) followed the leader in the pocket the whole way. Taggart would then pop out of the pocket with the 6 year-old Federal Flex gelding in mid-stretch. Owned by Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger, Warrawee Preferred (9.20) would go right by to win by a length in 1:55.0.
Dragin the Wagon would settle for second with the hard charging Oho Diamond (Ronny Morales) getting third.
Tioga Downs will have a 10 race card starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 7.
To learn more about the racing and entertainment at Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
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