Three-year-old filly breaks track record

Barn Bella (Jim Taggart Jr.) wins the Open Trot ($12,000) at Tioga Downs Saturday night. Barn Bella is five for five as a 3 year-old. At Tioga Downs this year the Conway Hall filly, who is owned by Purple Haze stables along with Nancy and Steve (trainer) Pratt is three for three. She has either equaled the track record or beaten it in each start. Tonight she raced the five-eighths harness racing oval in 1:52.4 beating her own mark of 1:53.3.

Wisenheimer led the field to the first quarter but Barn Bella ($3.60) brushed by to take over with one lap to go. She would lead by four lengths at the top of the stretch. That is when the late-charging Praire Fortune (Jim Meittinis) would take a run at her. Just when it looked like he might catch her she found even another gear to smash her record.

Barn Bella used this as a tune-up as she will run in the Empire Breeders Classic Final ($228,000) on Sunday June 18th at Vernon Downs.

Leading driver Mike Simons added to his total tonight winning three times with Explosive Drama ($4.00), Noble Anthony ($3.70), and Winning Wizard ($9.50).

Racing returns Sunday (June 11) afternoon at Tioga Downs at 1:00 P. M. The 13 race card features the Graduate Series Leg three for 4 year-old pacers and trotter as the Grand Circuit makes it's first 2017 trip to Tioga.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

John Horne for Tioga Downs.