Tioga: McWicked home first in Roll With Joe

McWicked put in a big final-half effort from first-over and was victorious in the $170,000 Roll With Joe for free-for-all pacers on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs. The final time of the mile was 1:48 3/5.

Filibuster Hanover (Yannick Gingras) set the tempo in the race as he made front right off the wings and hit the opening quarter in 26 4/5 and the half in a rated 55 2/5. McWicked (Brian Sears) tucked into third from his outside post six starting position and began his first-up bid nearing that half-mile marker.

Gingras and Filibuster Hanover picked up the tempo in a major way in the backstretch, reaching three-quarters in 1:21 2/5, but McWicked closed ground on him to that point and around the far turn as well. In the lane Filibuster Hanover dug in to try and stay in front, but it was to no avail as McWicked wore him down for good and went on to win by three-parts of a length. Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick) closed from sixth to third in the last quarter, followed by Rockin Ron (Matt Kakaley), Dealt A Winner (David Miller), and Western Joe (Jason Bartlett).

"The half was 55, but I was sitting close enough. This horse, he knows what to do. He knows how to get it done, and that's why he's here," Sears said. "I chased him a little bit. You've got to ask him a little bit, but he's a pro. He knows what's going on out there."

Casie Coleman trains McWicked, an 8-year-old McArdle stallion, for owner S S G Stables. This was McWicked's 37th career win, and he has now banked $4,399,317. He was the 1-5 favorite and paid $2.70 to win.