Don't Cry Lindy, Tap Tap Dance Score in Simpson Stakes

Don’t Cry Lindy and Tap Tap Dance were divisional winners in Thursday night’s $32,992John F. Simpson Memorial Stake for 2-year-old filly trotters, Pickmeamerigold captured the week’s top contest for female pacers and Howard Okusko, Jr. posted four winners for the first time this season at Vernon Downs.

Don’t Cry Lindy’s ($12.20) fast closing 2:01.1 victory in Thursday’s third race was the first in nine starts for the bay daughter of Chocolatier-Evita P, who is owned by Marvin Sternberg and Alvin Katz.

Okusko did the steering for trainer Linda Toscano.

Tap Tap Dance ($3.20) delivered a front-striding 2:00.2 triumph for driver and trainer Dan Daley in Thursday’s fifth event.

It marked the second local score and third overall tally for the bay daughter of Conway Hall-Suydance, who is owned by Ann-Mari Daley (Dan’s wife), Richard Lombardo and Murray S. Ferguson , Jr. She has earned close to $100,000 in 11 starts.

Pickmeamerigold’s ($5.60) gate-to-wire win in Thursday’s ninth race, the week’s top Miracle Mile distaff pace, was her seventh at the meeting, tying her with fellow pacers Bet The Ranch, Saranac Hanover and the trotter Fox Valley Majesty for second in total equine victories after 73 programs.

It was the eighth season’s score and 11th all time for the 4-year-old daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Whip City Gal, who is owned by Holly Cordisco.

Jack Rice did the teaming for trainer Joe Cordisco.

After posting first-place finishes in the night’s first three events (She’s So Chic, Viewish and Don’t Cry Lindy), Okusko capped off his four-bagger with a win behind Designed To Dazzle in race eight.

His wife, defending training champ Jessica Okusko, was credited with three wins, while Daley (Uni-optic Man) earned a double during the 10-race program.

DOWNS DOINGS—The pacer Up Front Rudy is tops in equine victories at the Downs this season with eight…Friday’s 10-race card includes four divisions of the John F. Simpson Memorial Stakes and the week’s top Miracle Mile trot. First post will be at 6:55 p.m.