Truth And Liberty used last second heroics for driver Mike Simons to pull off a sharp victory in Friday’s $11,000 feature for filly and mare pacers at Tioga Downs.
Coveredndiamonds N (Mike Merton) put up all the early fractions of :26.3, :56.2 and 1:23.4, but she was eventually tracked down by Truth And Liberty ($4.30), who is owned by Fairy Horsemother and trained by Simons. She was fifth at the halfway point and second best at three-quarters before she flew down the stretch and held off a late rush by Gina Grace N (Larry Stalbaum). K Js Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.) was third best.
Truth And Liberty, who stopped the teletimer in 1:52.2, is a six-year-old mare by Total Truth. It was her fifth win this season and her 33rd lifetime victory. Mike Simons had a driving double on the night. His other win came with Talkoholic ($9.10)
The drivers win title is still up for grabs for 2018. Mike Merton has a slight led with 54 wins. Jimmy Taggart Jr. is second best with 53 wins. Aaron Byron is tied with Jim Meittinis for third with 51 wins each. Andy Santeramo is fifth with 46 times to the winner's circle. The top drivers win title has been nip and tuck the whole season. Each of the top four drivers have had the lead at one point over the last two weeks.
(Tioga Downs)