Rain showers soaked the downtown Lexington oval throughout the afternoon and evening on Monday and the track was sloppy to say the least, as eight divisions of the John Simpson Memorial Stakes were contested
for two-year old filly pacers, and two and three-year old colt and gelding trotters.
The three-year old colt and gelding trotters were split into two $36,908 divisions, with both being taken by the favourites.
Big Bikkies (Ron Pierce) shipped into Lexington fresh off a dominant 1:53.1 victory in his $130,781 division of the Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk. The 1-5 favourite did not disappoint his backers in Lexington either, as he made every pole a winning one in scoring the 1 ¾ length victory in 1:56.3 on a track conservatively rated just two seconds off. The son of Windsongs Legacy-Sheza Hot Cookie picked up his fourth consecutive victory for the Adam Victor & Son Stable LLC and trainer Noel Daley, increasing his seasonal earnings to over $125,000 and quickly becoming one of the top three-year olds in the country. My Back Pages (Brian Sears) was placed second after Windshear (John Campbell) beat him a head but was offstride at the finish and placed third.
The other $36,908 John Simpson Memorial division for three-year old colt and gelding trotters was taken by Cruisealong (Mike Lachance) after he left from the nine hole and yielded for a pocket ride, parlaying that into the half length win in 1:58.3. The son of Cantab Hall-Glide Path is trained by Ron Gurfein and owned by the Brittany Farms, J. Silva, J. Novak, and M. Meinzinger.
Last year's highest priced yearling at auction, Muscle Massive (Muscles Yankee-Graceful Touch) upset Peter Haughton winner Holiday Road in the fastest of three $10,975 divisions for two-year-old trotters, tripping the timer in 1:59.2 for driver John Campbell, trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Brixton Medical Ab and Order BY Stable of Sweden and Ontarians Louie Camara, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam Goldband.
Other John Simpson Memorial divisional winners are listed below:
Two-year old Colt and Gelding Trotters
Olla Podriga-Dewayne Minor (Andover Hall-Chili Con Carne) 2:00.2
Victors Future-Brad Hanners (Valley Victor-Baby Bella) 2:01.3
Two-year old Filly Pacers (Three $11,522 Divisions)
Flip Flop Summer-Travis Seekman (Jennas Beach Boy-Gails A Crombie) 1:58.3
You See L A-Mike Lachance (The Panderosa-Los Angeles) 1:56
Say So-Brian Sears (Four Starzzz Shark-Yankee Scandal) 1:59
Harness racing action continues at The Red Mile on Thursday evening with four divisions of the John Simpson Memorial Stakes and a first post at 6:30 p.m. for the twelve race program.
(Red Mile)