"The best thing about him is he has guts. He never gives up and will just keep coming."

In a freshman campaign marred by some tough post position assignments and a small black cloud hanging over his head, Vegas Vacation collected one victory and six second place finishes in 2012, but his conditioner never lost faith in him and her conviction with regards to his ability has paid dividends this year.

“Right from the beginning I always said he was talented,” said Casie Coleman, whose barn the sophomore pacing gelding resides in. “He didn’t draw very well and didn’t have very good luck. It has carried over into this year a little bit, but he is always right there.”

Vegas Vacation's next trip to the track will be this coming Sunday (Aug. 11) in the $257,250 Empire Breeders Classic final at Tioga Downs. He's drawn Post 4, just to the outside of fellow elim winner Sunfire Blue Chip.

Vegas Vacation was purchased by West Wins Stable, Adriano Sorella, Anthony Beaton and Phyllis Saunders for $32,000 at the 2011 Lexington Selected Sale. He is a half-brother to Notreadytobenice (Western Ideal, p,3,1:54.1f, $172,733).

The son of Bettors Delight-Dont You Smile broke his maiden in his first attempt on July 13, 2012, at Mohawk Racetrack. Vegas Vacation was second in his next two starts, both conditioned events also over the Mohawk oval, before finishing second by a neck to Captaintreacherous in their $108,125 Nassagaweya event on Aug. 18.

Then it was another second, this time to Apprentice Hanover, in a $40,000 Metro Pace elimination before coming home eighth in the $1 million final. The gelding was then sixth in the Champlain, second in a non-winners race, as well as his Breeders Crown elimination, before ending his season with a fifth in the Breeders Crown final.

“He drew all the way outside in the Metro (post 10),” Coleman said. “In the Breeders Crown, he was locked in so he’s never had a bad race.”

Vegas Vacation commenced this year’s campaign with four straight victories, including a Somebeachsomewhere division and his Pepsi North America Cup elimination, before finishing seventh in the $1,000,000 final.

He came roaring back with two narrow losses to Captaintreacherous, each by a neck, in their Hempt elimination and the final. Remaining a model of consistency, the gelding was third in his Adios elimination, second in the final to Sunfire Blue Chip, and returned to the winner’s circle this past Sunday evening at Tioga Downs in a $12,500 Empire Breeders Classic elimination in a time of 1:49.2.

“It’s a long season and I gave him one break for about three weeks to keep him fresh,” Coleman said. “I’ll try to give him another one here soon, but he is in just about everything and we’ll keep going as long as everything is okay with him.”

After his performance in upstate New York, the gelding is slated to appear in the Cane Pace, the Little Brown Jug, at Lexington, and in the Breeders Crown.

“He prefers to come off a helmet, but he can come off the gate, too,” Coleman said. “He can leave in :25 seconds if you need him to and really will do anything you ask of him.”

To view the entries for Tioga's Sunday card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Tioga Downs.

(with files from USTA)