Leading driver Mike Simons enjoyed a dominant evening at Tioga Downs on Friday (August 28), scoring four wins on the nine-race card. Among those triumphs was one with Arodasi ($4.50) in the featured $14,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, as they held off a stout late charge from Mach It A Par to just prevail.
After Simons swept the Daily Double with Puff Mommy ($6.80, 1:54) and Quaint Irene ($6.20, 1:57.3), he settled to the back of the pack with Arodasi in the distaff feature. Second from last in the field of six and trailed only by even-money favourite Mach It A Par, the six-year-old daughter of Western Terror was far off a torrid :54.3 initial half-mile produced by pacesetter Shutthefrontdoor (John Cummings Jr.). On approach to the far turn, Simons pointed Arodasi second-over to follow the live cover of P L Hula (Aaron Byron), still stalked by Mach It A Par through a :27.3 third sectional. Arodasi swept three-wide at the apex of the turn, ultimately taking the lead just upon entering the home straight--but not home free. Mach It A Par--a winner of her five previous races--kicked cover, chasing valiantly down the grandstand side, but only able to close to within half a length of Arodasi's 1:50.4 victory. Southwind Trini (Jim Marohn Jr.), boxed on the backstretch and far turn, escaped traffic in upper stretch to just save third.
Trainer Joe Pavia Jr. shares ownership of Arodasi with Peter Shank, Joseph Barbera, and the AGC Stables Inc.
Despite a pair of near misses in races four and five, Simons bounced back to complete his grand slam in the sixth race, a $5,000 claiming trot. Ashcroft ($4.40), a 13-year-old gelding Simons owns in partnership with Albert Abdala III, made an early push to the lead, holding clear of a late-rallying Berto Adalina (Jason MacDougall) in 1:56.4. Simons's son Shawn trains the 59-time winner.
(Tioga Downs)