Evil Urges rode an aggressive move on the far turn to victory in the $10,000 Open 1 Handicap Trot at Vernon Downs on Friday night.

The gelding, driven by Jimmy Whittemore, was first-over moving past the half-mile mark and moved alongside the leader, My Revenuer (John Macdonald), on the turn. Evil Urges assumed the lead at the top of the stretch and was able to withstand the charge of Jaipur (Fern Paquet Jr.), who had followed the live cover provided by the winner in the mid-section of the race. Pollux Blue Chip (Claude Huckabone III) split horses aggressively in the stretch to get up for third. My Revenuer faded out to last after setting the pace for the majority of the race. The fractional times were :27.4 for the quarter, :57.3 for the half, 1:26.1 for three-quarters, and a final time of 1:54.2.

The complete order of finish was: Evil Urges, Jaipur, Pollux Blue Chip, Mr Web Page, Lucid Thoughts, and My Revenuer. Ilovemymommy was a scratch (sick).

Evil Urges (Cash Hall-Siren Hall) is owned Homer Hochstetler of Crete, Illinois and Robert Buddig of Hinsdale, Illinois. Hochstetler doubles as the trainer.

The sixth race of the evening also featured an interesting development concerning the claim of Oaklea Tyson (Angus Hall-Bronx Bombshell). There were 19 different claims put in on the gelding at the claiming price of $4,500. The winning claim was made by owner Tony Lioto of Syracuse, New York and trainer Barry Dodge. In addition to the 19 claims on Oaklea Tyson, Majestic Lad (Majestic Victory-Bolero Crystal) was claimed out of the sixth race by owner/trainer Mary Beth Fisher of Vernon, New York.

Live racing will resume on Saturday night with a 13-race program that features three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts. All of the Sire Stakes races will be covered in the 50-cent minimum Pick Four on Races 6-9. There are also interesting connections on an entrant in the fifth race on the Saturday night program, part of the New York Excelsior "A" Series. Elettrizzante is co-owned by Tom Durkin, longtime voice of the New York Racing Association, and Joseph Spadaro of Saratoga Springs, New York. Post time on Saturday night is 6:45 p.m.

(Vernon Downs)