Despite getting away last in a field of five, The Filly Princess ($21.00) sustained a first-over push to the lead and held clear for an upset win in Friday (June 12) evening's $10,000 Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs.

Frank Davis took the seven-year-old Bettors Delight mare off a contested pace, which saw Keene Olivia (Chris Lems) work to clear Purity (John MacDonald) through a blistering :25.4 first quarter before yielding. As Purity reclaimed the lead on the backstretch, The Filly Princess commenced her first-over rally, steadily making up ground through the third quarter. The Filly Princess turned up the pressure after Purity hit three-quarters in 1:23.1, advancing to a joint lead at the top of the stretch. As The Filly Princess took a narrow lead with an eighth of a mile to go, Purity hopped in the air, going off stride and losing all chance. Meanwhile, The Filly Princess held clear of a late challenge from Keene Olivia to prevail in 1:51.3 over the sloppy going, while Artic Byrd (Truman Gale) finished third.

Andy Gardner trains The Filly Princess for Standardbred Ventures Inc.

Live racing returns at Vernon on Saturday (June 13) evening, with first post at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.

(Vernon Downs)