E Street Plan and Mike Simons took home Saturday night’s $10,000 fastest division of the Nichols True Value Late Closer at Tioga Downs.
The duo left alertly from post position number eight and relinquished the lead to pacesetter Eastend Eddie (Sean Bier) through an opening quarter of :26.4. Simons then let Eastend Eddie do the heavy lifting through fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.2 before pulling around the final turn to challenge in the stretch. Down the stretch Eastend Eddie reached for more, but E Street Plan proved too strong capturing victory in 1:51.
The mile established a new lifetime mark for the three-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Plan On It gelding, who posted his fifth win in 10 seasonal starts for trainer Chuck Connor Jr. E Street Plan is owned by W Springtime Racing Stable, Shannon Brott, the Cataway Racing Stable, and Pat Caturano.
Ontario sired Waterside Champ won the other division in 1:52.4 by a neck in rein to Fern Paquet Jr. The four-year-old Camotion-Lasting Light gelding is trained by John Hallett for owners Walter Hennessey and F. Ian Smith of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The series is for pacers between three and five years old that are non-winners of five races or $60,000 lifetime through April 14, 2012.
Tioga Downs continues live racing on Sunday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m. featuring the $182,000 Bettors Delight and $184,000 Artiscape Pace. Tioga Downs will also offer a $5,000 guaranteed pick four on races nine through 12, which starts with the Bettors Delight.
(With files from Tioga Downs)