Vernon Downs hosted eight $28,571 Big Apple Stakes eliminations for two-year-olds on Friday, Oct. 2.

The top four finishers from each elimination, plus one of the fifth-place finishers per division determined by a draw, will advance to the $250,000 USD finals on Friday, Oct. 9.

Jula Florence ($4.62) won the first elimination for trotting fillies, stopping the clock in a career-best 1:55.1. Driven by Tyler Miller and trained by Julie Miller, she popped the pocket and took the lead past the three-quarter pole then held off a late charge to secure the victory. The next three finishers, who automatically qualify for the final, were Anabella (Brett Beckwith), Moonlight Kiss (Corey Callahan) and Hl Kapara (Jason Bartlett), with Diana Hanover (Tyler Buter) fifth. The winning Chapter Seven-Jula Shes Magic filly is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Windsong Stable and Dumain Haven Farm.

Undefeated trotting filly Kountry Plunge ($2.10) won the second elimination with a quick 1:54.1 mile to match her lifetime mark and come within one-fifth of a second of the divisional track record. Driver Brian Sears put the Chapter Seven-Plunge Blue Chip filly on the point at the midway mark and won by more than four lengths. The next three finishers to advance to the final were Wavy Xavie (Jeff Gregory), Secret Lover (Jason Bartlett) and Seven Thirds (Matt Kakaley), with Solar Queen (Tyler Buter) fifth. Kountry Plunge, now six-for-six, is trained by Åke Svanstedt for owners Obm Stable, Svanstedt And Midnight Sun, Bender Sweden and and Ecurie Diocles AB.

Carly Shay ($8.82) dominated the first elimination for pacing fillies, leading gate-to-wire in 1:51.2 for a maiden-breaking score with Brett Beckwith in tow. Huntsville Honey (Tyler Buter), Prop Bet (Matt Kakaley), Real Choice (Jason Bartlett) and Fendilicious (Braxten Boyd) rounded out the top five finish order. Megan Scran trains the winning Huntsville-Carly Girl filly for owners Scp Stable, Hutchinson Harness, Mark Robinson and Kyle Gray. 

Cowboy Candy ($2.44) advanced first-over from mid-field in the second half to take the second elimination for pacing fillies in a lifetime best of 1:51.3, winning by 3-1/2 lengths with Jason Bartlett in the bike. The next three that qualified were Annie O (Jeff Gregory), Shadow Of A Girl (Matt Kakaley) and Phast Phyllis (Braxten Boyd). Fifth-place finisher Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) will be entered in the draw for the final slot. Cowboy Candy, a filly by So Surreal out of Caviart Elena, is trained by Aaron Lambert and owned by Chain Lightning Stables. 

Ocean Storm ($2.22) used a gate-to-wire route to win in 1:53 in the first elimination for trotting colts and geldings. Driven by Brett Beckwith for trainer Cam Capone, the William Wellwood Memorial champion romped by 5-1/2 lengths, followed by Bailey J (Jason Bartlett), Betelgeusebluechip (Tyler Buter), T Money (Braxten Boyd) and dead heat fifth-place finishers Leader Kronos (Jordan Stratton) and Bigtime Chapter (Matt Kakaley). Cowboy Candy is a colt by Chapter Seven out of Empressive Hill, owned by Adh Holdings, Paul Kautz, Jeff Gural and Jean Pierre Barjon. 

Gios Hope ($2.78) and driver Jason Bartlett made their move around the final turn from mid-pack and won the second elimination for trotting males in a lifetime best of 1:54. Archon (Jordan Stratton), Uncle Rob (Tyler Miller), Telling Tall Tales (Tyler Buter) and Lionel Station (Matt Kakaley) finished second through fifth. Marcus Melander trains the victorious Chapter Seven-Southwind Hope colt for owners Brixton Medical and Hatfield Stables.

Rose Run Cowboy ($2.82) took the first elimination for pacing colts and geldings. Driven by Jason Bartlett, the Huntsville-Blameitonthenight colt took over at the halfway point and stormed home to win in 1:52.3 by 2-1/4 lengths. Clear Deal (Aaron Byron), Maries Jet (Braxten Boyd), Primacy Station (Matt Kakaley) and Hunt Me Down (Tyler Buter) rounded out the top five. Ron Burke trains Rose Run Cowboy for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon.

Jason Bartlett swept the male pacing eliminations, also driving Global Choice ($3.34) to an easy win in a lifetime best of 1:50.3 by 3-1/2 lengths. The Courtly Choice-Peak Of Chic colt, coming off a top three finish in the Metro Pace, is trained by Garry Merner Jr. and owned by Gino Toscani. Its News To Me (Leon Bailey), Rowdy Station (Brett Beckwith) and My Body Guard (Matt Kakaley) all qualified for the final with fifth-place Coco Wells (Corey Callahan) to be entered in the draw for the remaining spot.

Live harness racing continues on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Vernon Downs with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

(With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Kountry Plunge winning on Oct. 2)