Nichols, N.Y. -- Third-time starter Ideal Joey ($3.90)
impressed at odds-on in his first-round $7,500 Nichols True Value Late Closing
Series division on Sunday (May 15) at Tioga Downs, making all the pace and
evading f the first-over Cenovis for a 1:53.3 triumph.
Mike Simons sprinted clear with the 3-year-old Roll With Joe
gelding on entry to the first turn, assuming command from Diamond J (Fern
Paquet, Jr.) through a :28 initial quarter before backing down the tempo with a
circuit to go. Following a :57 half mile, Ideal Joey was nudged along by a
steadily-advancing Cenovis through a :28.1 third quarter. Ideal Joey responded
instantly to the pressure, edging clear on the far turn and ultimately
prevailing by 2-1/2 lengths. Runner-up Cenovis held 2-3/4 lengths clear of the
second-over JK Onaroll (John Cummings, Jr.).
John Butenschoen trains Ideal Joey for the Harmony Oaks
Racing Stable and William Wiswell.
The win for Simons was part of a Sunday afternoon driving
grand slam. Justin Huckabone accounted for three wins on the 13-race program.
The other Nichols True Value division went to Le Gambe
($7.60), who pounced in upper stretch and worked clear of the dueling Century
Chancellor (Simons) and Rocket J (Jim Marohn, Jr.) for a 1:56.4 victory. Mike
Simons drove the 3-year-old Shadyshark Hanover gelding for owner Ronald
Michelon and trainer Erv Miller.
In the overnight feature, a $9,000 top-level conditioned
pace, Tony Dinges trainee Grande Seelster ($30.40, Scott Coulter) emerged out
of traffic in the last 70 yards, wedging wide to overtake Murder He Wrote
(Marohn) and Winyard Hanover (Simons) in the final yards of a 1:53.3 mile.
Favorite P L Idaho (Clements) only could muster fourth after faltering mid-race
despite a ferocious stand-side rally.
Off the track, Tioga Downs mainstay Floyd, a 22-year-old
quarter horse, was honored on Sunday afternoon. Floyd, accompanied by longtime
Tioga outrider Wendy Ross, will conclude his career at Solvalla Racecourse in
Sweden later this month at the 2016 Elitloppet.
As no one hit the 50¢ Pick 5, the carryover for Friday (May
20) evening's card mounts to $498.30. First post on Friday is slated for 6:30
p.m. EDT.
