Mike Merton wins five races including Tioga Downs feature
July 28, 2019,Nichols, NY – Mike Merton won the $11,000 featured pace with Rebellious and drove four more winners at Tioga Downs on Sunday (July 28).
Rebellious ($5.30) went straight to the lead and led to the first quarter in :26.1. Americanprimetime (Wally Hennessey) took over as they went by the stands for the first time. He controlled the pace as they hit the half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:21.3.
Rebellious, who is owned by trainer Mike Deters and Joel Warner, went first-over just before three-quarters. He would fly right by and win going away in a new lifetime mark of 1:49. Americanprimetime held on for second. Motown N (Jeffrey Long) finished third.
Rebellious is a 5-year-old gelding by Mach Three. It was his seventh win this season. He now owns 26 career victories.
Merton got his other wins with Melanie’s Fran ($4.60), Mr Big Bucks ($2.90), Itsnoproblemman ($15.80), and The Spy ($6.10).
Trainer Mike Deters swept the co-features as Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis) won the $11,000 featured trot.
Dragin The Wagon (Aaron Byron) took the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :26.4. He was also first to the half in :56.2.
Prairie Fortune ($2.50), who is owned by Deters and Laurie Poulin, went first over on the backstretch and took over with three-eighths of a mile to go. He hit the three-quarters mark first in 1:23.4 and breezed down the stretch to win by 10-1/2 lengths in a lifetime best of 1:52.3. Jack Rules (Andy Santeramo) finished second. Campbellini (Corey Braden) was third best.
Prairie Fortune is a 7-year-old gelding by Arapa Victory. It was his seventh win this season. He now owns 54 career victories.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Friday (Aug. 2) with a nine-race card starting at 6:15 p.m.
For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.