Williams Sweeps Miami Stakes
Trainer Trevor Williams sent the winners in the closing day feature stakes at the Miami Fair on Saturday (Sept. 12).
Vern Wish vaulted to an open-length victory in the $8,382 Golden Boy final. Sent the third betting choice at 2-1, the three-year-old Toucam Sam gelding pushed for the front from the pylon post and took the field through a clip of :29.1, 1:00.4 and 1:30.3 before powering away. Through the stretch Verns Wish opened his lead to hit the finish in 2:02.1, nine lengths clear of Two Shoes in second with race-favourite Munchie Chris another seven lengths behind in third.
Owned by Williams, Verns Wish won his second race from 12 starts, earning $6,450. Jacques Lambert drove the $7.00 winner.
Follow Your Nose also led every step when winning the $8,666 Silk Lace Final, delivering as the odds-on favourite in 2:02.1. Driver Michel Rey sent the three-year-old Toucam Sam filly to the top and led the field to a :30.1 opening quarter. Pocket-sitter Baylor Out Babe began to tire past a 1:00.3 half as Runaway Heiress ranged uncovered to then tuck into the pocket spot with a lap to go. However Follow Your Nose remained strong by three-quarters in 1:29.2 and kept Runaway Heiress at bay by a length with Miso Classy finishing third.
Co-owned by Williams with Michael Williams, Follow Your Nose won her eighth race from 15 starts this season and her 10th from 18 overall, earning $42,685. She paid $3.80 to win.
The Saturday card at Miami Fair handled $12,849, the highest of any card this racing season.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Miami.