Chef Lee inherited the lead near the quarter and made the most of it, rolling to his second straight victory in Monday’s Tamarind Trot at The Meadows.
Simeon took the other $17,500 second-leg split in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The championship leg of the Tamarind Trot is set for Monday, April 20.
Special Action outdueled Chef Lee for the early lead only to break stride shortly thereafter. Chef Lee might not have needed the help, as he scored in 1:57.2, lowering his lifetime mark by nearly three seconds. Tails was 4-1/2 lengths back in second, while Only The Brave recovered from an early break to earn show.
Mike Wilder drove the Cantab Hall-Summer Savory gelding for owner/trainer Norm Parker.
Off stride in his three most recent appearances, Simeon rebounded nicely for Dan Rawlings, sitting comfortably in the pocket before zipping by in the Lightning Lane to down Flying Muscles by a length in 1:59.1. The first-over Knucklebiter finished third.
David Wade conditions Simeon, an Andover Hall-Keystone Ariana gelding, and owns with Anne Wade, Gerald Brittingham and William Peel III.
In the $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, TSM Photo Bugger used a pocket trip and late kick to upset the 3-5 favourite, Daylon Miracle, by a head at a healthy 28-1 for Wilder, trainer Jan Fread and owner/breeder Ted Tomson. Run And Tell Pap completed the ticket.
An eight-year-old SJs Photo-Rewarding Wink gelding, TSM Photo Bugger now boasts $493,201 in career earnings.
It was among Wilder’s three victories on the 14-race card.
(The Meadows)