Trotting mare Little Town Road, driven by Aaron Byron, rallied off cover to win the $11,972 Open Handicap at Vernon Downs on Friday, July 24.

Oh Brother (John MacDonald) was first to the quarter in :27 before Civilian Drone (Kyle Swift) took control to the half in :56.1 while 2-1 favourite Little Town Road was midfield tracking cover in her Vernon debut. Chapvious (Leon Bailey) challenged for the lead as they went around the final turn and poked a head in front at three-quarters in 1:25.3. As they reached the stretch, Byron made his move with Little Town Road, going three-wide and drawing off by two lengths for the 1:54.3 victory. Civilian Drone settled for second and Tiktok Roy (Jimmy Whittemore) closed from the back of the nine-horse field in the final quarter to finish third.

Little Town Road is a five-year-old mare by Fordham Road out of A Little Laid Back. Claimed in late February at The Meadows, she has won four of her 14 starts competing for trainer Bryson Dunning and Pennsylvania owners Howard Kaufman and Joshua Kaufman. 

A popular pick among bettors following consecutive runner-up finishes in the Opens in Maryland, she paid $6.36 to win.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, July 25 with a post time of 5:05 p.m. 

(Standardbred Canada with files from Vernon Downs)