Tioga Downs played hosts to three divisions of the John Simpson Memorial for sophomore pacers on Sunday afternoon, with fillies battling in two events and the
colts and geldings butting heads in the other split.
Dancinwiththestarz continued her dominance winning the first $30,143 division for the gals. Jim Morrill, Jr., who did the steering for trainer John Stark, Jr., sent the filly to the front past the grandstand for the first time. Morrill then controlled the race through fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.1 before pacing away from the field to win in a lifetime best of 1:51.4. Shaky Hanover (Jason Bartlett) was second and Rosies Pride (Bruce Ranger) finished third.
The clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the track record set by Paulas Best in 2007.
It was the eleventh career lifetime victory in 14 career starts for Dancinwiththestarz, who is owned by W Springtime Racing Stable of Johnstown, NY and Shannon Brott of Gloversville, NY, who also owned legendary distaffer Bunny Lake.
In the second division, Feeling You continued her winning ways by posting her seventh win of the year in eight starts for trainer George Berkner. Morrill put the daughter of Cambest-Ripreza Hanover on the engine and never looked back pacing through fractions of :28.1, :56.1, and 1:24.3 before asking his charge to pace through the stretch winning in 1:52.3. Galimony (George Brennan) used a two hole trip to take second, while Tia Maria Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) finished third.
Alan Kirschenbaum of Burbank, CA bred and owns Feeling You, who increased her earnings to more than $67,000 with the victory.
In the lone $42,277 division of the Simpson Stakes for colts and geldings, Eagle Jolt and Jason Bartlett earned their way to the front and never relinquished the lead en route to a win in 1:53. Golden Time (Marcus Johansson) came first over and wound up finishing second, while Oakmont (Jim Marohn Jr.) rallied late for third.
It was the fourth win of the year for the son of Village Jolt-Jazzy Jam, who is owned by Frank Dettore Horse Racing of Ohio and is trained by Mark Ford.
(Tioga Downs).