Emma Town Bud won his Vernon Downs debut for trainer/driver Pierre Bovay, taking the New York oval's featured $10,563 conditioned optional claiming trot on Friday, Sept. 25.

With the inside post advantage, Emma Town Bud secured the lead as he charged to the quarter in :26.4 before Snowpiercer (Leon Bailey) came alongside heading down the backstretch. Emma Town Bud held a short lead at the half in :56.4, but drew clear again to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and accelerated off the turn to score in 1:53.4. 

A winner at Woodbine Mohawk Park three starts ago, Emma Town Bud was the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.40 at the betting windows. Favourite Chapvious (Jacquavyian Carter) gave chase from the pocket, but couldn't get close to the 1-3/4-length winner. Longshot Helphasarrived (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) finished third.

Emma Town Bud picked up his third win of the season in eight starts and his 35th victory lifetime. The nine-year-old Big Stick Lindy-Centerfold Lady gelding is owned by Nicole Bovay Gurtner of Applehill, Ont.

Jessica Okusko had a training hat trick on Friday's 13-race program, including a sweep of the early Daily Double with Purple Haze Stable's trotters Credeville ($9.22) and Chapara ($3.96), both driven by Jacquavyian Carter. Okusko also won with Taladega Express ($2.52), a three-year-old pacing filly she co-owns, later on the card with Leon Bailey in the bike. The Vernon, New York trainer now sits just two wins shy of 1,000 lifetime victories.

Live harness racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Sept. 26 with a post time of 5:05 p.m. 

(Standardbred Canada with files from Vernon Downs)