by
James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
After
prevailing in the Levy Consolation at Yonkers in April, Clear Vision has his
sights set on a second triumph in the $160,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace,
which headlines Sunday (June 1) afternoon's stakes-laden program at Tioga
Downs.
Formerly
known as the Bettor's Delight, the Roll With Joe was unveiled in 2010 by Tioga
Downs and Blue Chip Farms. Clear Vision (post 9) and Matt Kakaley took
the 2012 edition in 1:48.2, and they team up again this year as part of a Ron
Burke-trained entry. Sweet Lou (post 2) serves as the other half of the
entry, coming in off a pair of TVG Free-For-All Series wins at the Meadowlands,
most recently sprinting home in 1:48 with Ron Pierce in tow. Pierce
remains aboard, and the Burke pair have been installed the 6-5 morning line
favorite in this year's Roll With Joe, carded as race 10.
All-Star
Racing's Bolt the Duer (post 4, Mark MacDonald) boasts career earnings in
excess of $1.7 million, and has been named the 9-2 second choice in the morning
line. The five-year-old Ponder entire boasts a 1:47.4 lifetime mark taken
in the 2012 Adios at the Meadows, and most recently earned minor placings behind
Sweet Lou in two TVG events. Two other millionaires contest the Roll With
Joe, with Heston Blue Chip (post 7, Tim Tetrick, part of a Linda
Toscano-trained entry) and Warrawee Needy (post 5, David Miller) among the
standouts in the ten-horse field.
A
trio of $41,300 New York Sire Stakes events for three-year-old pacing colts and
geldings share sub-feature status on the 13-race card, with twenty-seven
sophomores contesting races 6, 8, and 11.
Winds
of Change (American Ideal) prevailed in the Champlain at Mohawk last September,
and will make his three-year-old debut in the first division. Tim Tetrick
handles the driving duties on Winds of Change for trainer Linda Toscano.
The
second division is headlined by Forty Five Red (If I Can Dream), a five-time
winner with multiple NYSS wins from last season to his credit. He boasts
a 1:51.1 mark at Vernon, and Matt Kakaley gets the driving assignment from
trainer Ron Burke.
Twin
B Speedo (Art Major) leads the third division, coming in off a 1:55.3 front-end
win at Yonkers and having amassed just shy of $100,000 in career earnings.
Trainer Mark Ford has named Mark MacDonald to drive the two-time winner.
