by John Horne, for Tioga Downs

Tioga, NY — Mister Daytona N (Mike Simons) won the Tioga Downs Open Pace ($12,000) on Sunday afternoon (June 4).

Fred Brown photo

Mister Daytona N gets up at the wire to provide leading driving Mike Simons with another victory.

Simons, who is the leading driver so far this season, guided Mister Daytona N (American Ideal) to the outside at the three-quarter mark. Mr Daytona N ($4.40), who is owned by Albert Abdala III and trained by Simons, would wear down front-running Deetzy (Jim Taggart Jr.) in the stretch to win in 1:51.4. Americanprimetime (Rick Dane Jr. was third.

Simons had a driving double on the day placing his total to 26 wins on the season.

Jim Marohn Jr. won three races on the day. In the second race, he would score with Free Love ($8.10) and in race four he led Winyard Hanover ($2.70) to victory. In race 10 he piloted Nicholas Ryan ($7.70) to yet another win.

A “Long” weekend at Tioga Downs

Trainer/owner/driver Jeff Long, had a great start to the month of June. On Friday night he piloted Yoooukilis ($16.20) to pay dirt as the 6-year-old son gelded son of Ken Warkentin went gate-to-wire in 1:57.0.

Long, a Endicott, New York native, had two wins on Saturday night. He guided Tidquist ($8.60) to victory taking the 5-year-old Conway Hall gelding gate-to-wire in 1:55.2. His second win of the evening came with Oh No Three O. Trained by Paul Long for owner Charlene Long, the 10-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding trotted past favorite McKenzie’s Star (Fern Paquet Jr.) in the stretch. Oh No Three Oh ($6.90) came home in 1:54.4.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday Night (June 9) at 6:50 p.m.. On Sunday afternoon (June 11) the Grand Circuit returns to Tioga Downs with the third leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers and trotters.

For more information please go to www.tiogadowns.com.