Nichols, NY – Driver Mike Merton and trainer Gaston Lareau had a night to remember at Tioga Downs on Friday (Aug. 12). Merton drove five winners during the eight-race card, three of them for Lareau horses.

He combined with Lareau for wins with Crystal Sparkles N ($12.40), PL Notorious ($4.30), and Reticent Hanover ($3.20).  Merton got his other wins with Original Smokey ($3.70) and The Charging Moa N ($3).

A Better Game (Brandon Parker) takes the $9,000 featured Fillies and Mares’ Pace

A Better Game won the featured Fillies and Mares Pace Friday night at Tioga Downs. Fred Brown Photo.

In the race eight feature, Gold Star Igotdis (Corey Braden) was first to the quarter in :27.2.  Rigginswind (Kyle Cummings) took the lead with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.3.  A Better Game ($3.90) came flying first-over down the backstretch and blew right on by to lead to three-quarters in 1:24.1.

As they made the turn for home, it was all A Better Game.  Second-place finisher Gold Star Igotdis came all out but could only watch as A Better Game won easily by three lengths in 1:52.3.  Donegalartchokin N (Mike Simons) finished third.

A Better Game is a 4-year-old mare by Betterthancheddar.  She is owned by Patrick Gregory and trained by Mike Watson.  It was her sixth win this season and her ninth career victory.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (Aug. 13) with a 13-race card featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old trotting colts & geldings starting at 6:15 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.