Eliminations for the $500,000 Empire Breeders’ Classics will headline a twelve-race card on Saturday night at Vernon Downs

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Leading the way for sixteen trotting fillies in the first division is Jezzy from the always powerful Ray Schnittker stable. The three-year old daughter of Credit Winner–Ladylind began her sophomore campaign last weekend at Vernon with a victory in a division of the John F Simpson. Jezzy won by three quarters of a length as the 1-5 prohibitive favourite in 1:57.2. Last year Jezzy posted ten wins and a second from eleven seasonal starts, with her only defeat coming in the New York Sire Stakes Final. Jezzy will start from post position number four on Saturday night in the first division for trotting fillies slated as race number two.

On the men’s side, Dejarmbro leads a group of twenty five three-year old colt and gelding trotters in the second of three divisions slated as race number six. Dejarmbro was the 2010 NYSS champion for freshman trotters last year and also won an elimination of the Breeders’ Crown at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in a lifetime best of 1:55. Since last year the three-year old son of Credit Winner-Armbro Déjà vu has relocated to the Trond Smedshammer stable to begin his run at what the connections hope to be a Hambletonian campaign. Trond Smedshammer is listed to drive Dejarmbro from post position number two on Saturday night after winning his second qualifier of the year at The Meadowlands in 1:56.2.

The rich $500,000 finals will be contested on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30th) with an afternoon post time of 1:15 p.m.

(Vernon Downs)