After having prevailed in the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series consolation at Yonkers Raceway in April, Clear Vision now has his sights set on a second triumph in the $160,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace, which will headline Tioga Downs’ stakes-laden Sunday afternoon (June 1) program.
Formerly known as the Bettors Delight, the Roll With Joe was unveiled in 2010 by Tioga Downs and Blue Chip Farms. Clear Vision (PP9) and Matt Kakaley took the 2012 edition in 1:48.2, and they will team up again this year as part of a Ron Burke-trained entry. Sweet Lou (PP2) serves as the other half of the entry, coming in off a pair of TVG Free-For-All Series wins at the Meadowlands Racetrack, most recently sprinting home in 1:48 with Ron Pierce in tow. Pierce remains aboard, and the Burke pair has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favourite in this year's Roll With Joe, which has been carded as Race 10.
All-Star Racing's Bolt the Duer (PP4, Mark MacDonald) boasts career earnings in excess of $1.7 million, and has been named the 9-2 second choice on the morning line. The five-year-old son of Ponder boasts a 1:47.4 lifetime mark taken in the 2012 Adios at the Meadows, and most recently earned minor placings behind Sweet Lou in two TVG events. Two other millionaires will contest the Roll With Joe, as Heston Blue Chip (PP7, Tim Tetrick – part of a Linda Toscano-trained entry) and Warrawee Needy (PP5, David Miller) are among the standouts in the 10-horse field.
A trio of $41,300 New York Sire Stakes events for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings share sub-feature status on the 13-race card, as a total of 27 sophomores will be in collective action during Races 6, 8, and 11.
Winds of Change (by American Ideal) prevailed in a division of the Champlain Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack last September, and will make his three-year-old debut in the first division. Tim Tetrick will handle the driving duties on Winds of Change for trainer Linda Toscano.
The second division is headlined by Forty Five Red (If I Can Dream), a five-time winner with multiple NYSS victories from last season to his credit. He boasts a 1:51.1 mark at Vernon Downs, and Matt Kakaley has gotten the driving assignment from trainer Ron Burke.
Twin B Speedo (Art Major) leads the third division and is coming in off a 1:55.3 front-end win at Yonkers. Trainer Mark Ford has named Mark MacDonald to drive the two-time winner.
Post time for the Sunday opener at Tioga is slated for 1:30 p.m.
(Tioga)