Nichols, NY – Wally Hennessey drove five winners including Prairie Cougar in the featured $8,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap at Tioga Downs on Friday (July 24).

Prairie Cougar was the first of driver Wally Hennessy’s five wins on Friday night in the Fillies & Mares Open at Tioga Downs. Fred Brown Photo.

Prairie Cougar ($5.30) battled Tay Tay M (Jim Taggart Jr.) out of the gate but went on by to lead to the first quarter in :27.  She would slow down the pace using a :30.1 second quarter to hit the half first in :57.1.  Gold Star Mysti (Corey Braden) was the first to make a move going first-over.  She stalled on the outside with The Charging Moa N (Mike Merton) caught behind second-over.  Prairie Cougar led to three-quarters in 1:24.1.

As they made the turn for home, Tay Tay M found room to pop out of the pocket with The Charging Moa forced to go three-wide to chase the top two.  Prairie Cougar dug in and held on to win in 1:52.3.  Tay Tay M settled for second with The Charging Moa N finishing third.

Prairie Cougar is a 4-year-old mare by Royel Millennium and is owned by Laurie Poulin, Barbara Jenssen and trainer Mike Deters.  It was her fourth win in six starts this season.  She now has 11 career wins.

Hennessey’s other wins came with Money Earned ($2.10), Princess Holly N ($14.80), Maddelle ($3.30), and Freak On A Leash ($7).

Gaston Lareau trained four winners on the card and leads all trainers with 26 wins so far this season at Tioga.  Rob Harmon trained three winners on the card and is second with 24 trips to the winner’s circle.  Joe Skowyra is third with 17 tallies.  Jim McDonald (16) and Mike Deters (15) round out the top five.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing with a 13-race card featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.  Post time is 4 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.