Nichols, NY — Purple Lord (Jim Pantaleano) took the featured $16,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday (May 31).
Lava Field (Tyler Miller) grabbed the early lead but Purple Lord ($11.40) got by just before hitting the quarter first in :27.1. He used a :28.4 second quarter and led to the half in :56. Second-place finisher TNT Blue Chip (Bruce Clarke) came first-up heading down the backstretch and challenged for the lead. Purple Lord got to three-quarters first in 1:24.4.
As they reached the stretch, Purple Lord found another gear and won easily in 1:54.3. Lava Field finished third.
Purple Lord is a 5-year-old gelding by Tactical Landing. He is owned by trainer Mike Deters with Spindler, Warner, and Paulson. It was his third win this season. He now has 12 career victories.
Braxten Boyd had a driving double.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday (June 1) with a post time of 1 p.m. For more information, go to www.tiogadowns.com.