Ideal Jimmy (Jody Jamieson) and Lightfootedlegend (Renaldo Morales III) took the co-featured $10,000 Open events at Tioga Downs on Sunday (June 6).
Ideal Jimmy ($3.40) cruised to an easy win in the $10,000 Open Pace.
Ideal Jimmy was sent straight for the lead by driver Jody Jamieson, and the pair led through a :27.1 and a :55.3 half. Chatelroll (Frank Affrunti) came first-up to challenge Ideal Jimmy all the way down the backstretch, but Ideal Jimmy shook off the challenge and led to three-quarters in 1:22.1. As they made the turn for home, Ideal Jimmy found another gear and won easily in a lifetime best of 1:49.4. Prairie Panther (Wally Hennessey) came charging late to finish second. Waimac Attack N (Mike Merton) was third.
Ideal Jimmy is an eight-year-old gelding by Western Ideal owned by D.R. Van Witzenburg and trained by Erv Miller. It was his fifth win of the season and 30th of his career.
Lightfootedlegend went from last to first to capture the $10,000 Open Trot.
Golden Kronos (John MacDonald) took the early lead before yielding to Burn Notice (Hennessey) just before the :28 first quarter. Burn Notice hit the half in :57 and maintained his lead under pressure from the first-over Joey Pro (Jamieson) to three-quarter in 1:25.1. Meanwhile, Lightfootedlegend, who found himself sixth at three-quarters, came flying down the stretch like he was shot out of a cannon and passed them all to win in 1:54.1. Burn Notice settled for second with Golden Kronos getting third money.
Lightfootedlegend is a six-year-old gelding by Mr Cantab owned by David Linker and trained by Dale Gilmour. It was his fourth win of the season and 14th career victory.
Jamieson and Hennessey each drove three winners on the card.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (June 12) starting at 6:15 p.m. For more information, go to www.tiogadowns.com.
(Tioga Downs)