Taking advantage of a perfect pocket trip, Kelly Hope's Little Santamonica employed potent closing kick en route to a 1:51.2 victory in Friday’s featured $10,000 Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs.

The seven-year-old Little Steven mare sprinted to the lead early, yielding to even-money favourite Southwind Trini (Greg Merton) just after a :27.3 initial quarter. With clear sailing from the pocket through a :56.4 middle half, Chris Lems started his bid with Little Santamonica in upper stretch, pushing clear immediately upon asking. The pair drew off in a :26.4 final quarter to defeat Southwind Trini by 1-1/2 lengths, while The Filly Princess (Roman Lopez) made a late push to take third.

Jordan Hope trains Little Santamonica, who earned her 33rd career win. She paid $4.10.

While Chris Lems teamed up with Table Games ($7.50, 1:53.4) later in the card to complete a driving double, John MacDonald earned top driving honours with three wins of the night. He teamed up with Odds On Cygnus ($6.80, 1:54.2), Pancakes ($11.80, 1:52), and My Lucky Word ($3.40, 1:58.1) for his driving hat trick.

Pacing mares likewise took center stage at Tioga Downs, with a pair of $6,800 co-featured conditioned events sharing top billing for the evening. The Perkins Racing Stable's Addys Way ($2.80) did not look back after an early push to the fore, sprinting away through a :27.4 third quarter en route to a 1:52.1 victory over K Js Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.). Leading driver Mike Simons handled the driving duties aboard the Camluck mare for trainer Daniel Gill.

The other co-featured event saw Elizabeth Bluechip ($11.60) sustain a late push off cover, just collaring Rosie de Vie (Henrik Lundell) in a 1:53.4 mile. Trainer Jeffrey Long was in the bike behind the late-rallying Bettors Delight mare.

Live racing returns to both Vernon and Tioga on Saturday (May 9) evening. Post time at Tioga is 6:15 p.m., while racing at Vernon kicks off at 6:45 p.m.

(Vernon Downs/Tioga Downs)