Three divisions of the Nichols True Value late closer took place on a calm and cool night at Tioga Downs
. 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.
The first division seemed all but a lock on paper for the 2-1 morning line favourite Fearless Diablo, fresh off six wins in his last eight starts. Things seemed headed in that same direction as pilot Victor Kirby and Fearless Diablo cruised through fractions of :27.3, :57, and 1:24.4, but E Street Plan and Mike Simons proved why races are not won on paper. Sitting the perfect pocket trip, Simons edged off the last turn and kicked home with a :27.3 last quarter to stop the teletimer at 1:52.3.
In the second division, race favourite Eastend Eddie got his way early with soft fractions of :28 and :57.1 before pilot Sean Bier blitzed the field with a back half in :55.1 crossing the line in 1:52.2. The win pushed the earnings of the four-year-old gelding to just over $100,000 lifetime.
The third and final division of the Nichols True Value Pace was the most closely contested. Mike Simons and Finn Man cut the early fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.2 while Sean Bier and Gotta Love Him sat the pocket. In deep stretch, Bier angled Gotta Love Him out and wore down Finn Man right at the wire to get up by a neck in 1:52.4.
Spice It Up Lindy won the $16,500 Open Trot in 1:55.2 for driver Jim Meittinis and trainer Santo Zuzolo.
(With files from Tioga Downs)