Fresh off a track-record performance at Tioga Downs in last week's Geers Stakes, Cougar Bait ($5.00, part of entry) proved dominant in Friday (August 19) evening's lone $10,000 Kindergarten Classic preliminary for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carded as race two at Vernon Downs.

Marcus Miller brushed the Western Terror-No One Is Alone gelding to the fore after a :27.2 first quarter before rating a :57.3 middle half. Upon turning for home, Cougar Bait felt mild pressure from 3-5 favourite Lindythefourteenth (Scott Zeron), edging clear easily off the turn -- Lindythefourteenth broke stride only after he began to regress. Meanwhile, Cougar Bait drew off by four and three-quarter lengths over his stablemate, Harry Terror (Andy McCarthy), who rallied belatedly to take second from Manattack (Chris Lems). The 1:51.4 mile time gave Cougar Bait a new lifetime mark in his third consecutive win.

John Butenschoen trains Cougar Bait for the Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc., Jeremey Day, Tangie Massey, and the VIP Internet Stable LLC.

Miller scored a stakes double at the Miracle Mile, making gradual gains with Ameraway ($3.90, part of entry) through the stretch en route to a 1:53 win over Well Whats New (Zeron) and V String (McCarthy) in the 10th event, a Kindergarten preliminary for pacing fillies. Trainer Erv Miller co-owns the daughter of American Ideal and Shyaway with Paymaq Racing, the aforementioned Tangie Massey, and Neil Cumsky.

The earlier Kindergarten split for fillies, carded as race six, saw Caviart Ally ($3.80, part of entry) make all the pace and accelerate through the far turn for a 1:53.2 score over pocket rival Someonesomewhere (Miller) and the belatedly-gaining Jennys Terror (Fern Paquet Jr.). Andy McCarthy drove the daughter of Bettors Delight and Allamerican Cool for trainer Noel Daley and owner Caviart Farms.

(With files from Vernon Downs)