by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will host some of the best sophomore pacers the country will likely see in 2011 on Sunday afternoon in Nichols, New York.

Fred Brown photo

Fashion Delight banked more then $510,000 in 2010 for trainer Jim Campbell.

Headlining the names for the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers are freshman standouts Feel Like A Fool, Fashion Delight, Roadside Delight, and Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam, all of which drew in the first of two divisions.

Feel Like A Fool prepared for the eliminations last weekend at Tioga Downs by winning the lone division of the John F. Simpson stakes by more than ten lengths over a sloppy track in 1:54. Feel Like A Fool will have his work cut out for him this weekend as Fashion Delight (David Miller), who banked more than $510,000 in 2010, finished his prep last week at the Meadowlands winning a qualifier in 1:52.3 with a final panel of 28 for trainer Jim Campbell.

Roadside Delight got his first start of 2011 under his belt last Sunday at Chester and finished second to Valentino, pacing his mile in 1:50.3 for trainer Richard Norman.

Also joining some of the freshman standouts in the first division is a newcomer to the spotlight, American Arena (Simon Allard) for trainer Noel Daley. A perfect three for three this year, American Arena won last week at the Meadowlands from the nine hole in 1:52.1. However, the post position draw was once again not on his side as he has drawn post nine for Sunday’s elimination.

Leading the way for the ladies is last year’s Dan Patch Award Winner, See You At Peelers. Undefeated in her career, See You At Peelers was a perfect thirteen for thirteen in 2010 and took home the NYSS Final and Breeders’ Crown while banking more than $580,000 for trainer Jimmy Takter. Takter has entrusted the newly assigned driving duties to his son in law, Marcus Johansson, after he qualified the filly twice at The Meadowlands. In her most recent qualifier See You At Peelers was a wire to wire winner in 1:52.2, she has drawn post position three in the first of two divisions for 3-year-old filly pacers.