Presque Isle Downs: Sky Willow, Motion to Appeal take Friday night stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Sky Willow came from just off the pace under jockey Mario Pino to win the $75,000 Northern Fling at Presque Isle Downs on Friday evening.
Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, Sky Willow was third early in the one-mile race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares before rallying into the stretch to take the lead. She then drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Weeper set the early pace under Manuel Chaves before settling for second, two lengths in front of post-time favorite Lenape Rim in third.
Sky Willow ran the mile over a dry Tapeta surface in 1.37.92. She paid $7.20 to win.
Leemat Stakes: Ferraro saddles first two finishers
Trainer Mike Ferraro sent out the first two finishers in the $75,000 Leemat, the second Pennsylvania-bred stakes of the evening.
Motion to Appeal led the entire way in the mile event under Dennis Carr, holding off Ryan's Gift and jockey Luis Perez by a half-length. Favored Gondwanan was a head back in third.
Motion To Appeal returned $10 to win and ran the mile in 1.37.49. The Ferraro-trained exacta of Motion to Appeal and Ryan's Gift returned $36.20.