Simons drives all 3 Tompkins-Geers winners at Tioga

It was the Simons sweep in the three divisions of Tompkins-Geers stake races for 2-year old trotting fillies on Friday night at Tioga Downs as the winners were Mike Simons and Sabana Hanover, Madam Hooch and Felicity Hall.

 

Simons captured the $30,352 first division of the Tompkins-Geers by sending Sabana Hanover, a daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Sos Fire Fly, first-over to clear past pacesetter Full Tank (Jim Morrill Jr.) and ease to victory in 2:01. It was the first win of the career for Sabana Hanover in three lifetime starts for Maple Ridge Stable and Mary Martin of Pennsylvania. Clarence Martin Jr. trains the trotting filly who was purchased for $14,000 at the Harrisburg sale.

 

In the second division Simons sent Madam Hooch straight to the top from post position nine and they never looked back on their way to victory in 1:59.2. It was the first career victory for the daughter of Credit Winner-Pigwidgeon who had previously posted two second-place finishes in her first two starts. Fred Grant trains Madam Hooch for Russell Williams of Hanover, Pa..

 

Madam Hooch's trip to victory was made a little bit easier when 1-9 betting favorite Nicole (Jim Morrill Jr.) made a miscue behind the gate, and then again just past the half mile mark.

 

In the third and final division Simons relinquished the lead past the quarter mile mark to betting favorite Dreama Littledream (Gates Brunet). Simons kept Felicity Hall in the pocket through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2, and 1:29.4 before edging to the outside at the top of the stretch to pass by the pacesetter and score in 2:00.2.

 

Felicity Hall, a daughterof Like A Prayer-Favorite Hall, is trained by Fred Grant for owner-breeder Walnut Hall Limited of Lexington, Kentucky. Grant spoke briefly in the winner’s circle following the victory and said Felicity Hall was being aimed toward her stake action at The Red Mile in August.

 

(Tioga Downs)