Ideal Newton stayed perfect in 2009 by pulling off an upset win in the featured $25,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
A 4-year-old mare trained by Noel Daley, Ideal Newton moved up to the Open after winning back-to-back condition paces at Pocono to start her season. Leaving from post position four in an eight-horse field as a 9-1 shot, she settled in third around the first turn as Nip N Attack set the pace. On the backstretch, driver Andrew McCarthy sent her to the outside to follow the cover of 6-5 favorite Esmeralda Semalu. Ideal Newton then tipped out three wide in the stretch and chased down Nip N Attack to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52:1.
Nip N Attack finished second while Thong rallied for third.
Ideal Newton, sired by Western Ideal and owned by Adam Victor & Son Stable LLC of New York, N.Y., won for the eighth time in 19 lifetime starts and pushed her career earnings over $255,000. (Pocono Downs)
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