Taco Tuesday was a wire-to-wire winner for driver Leon Bailey in the $6,500 top trot during Friday evening’s card of racing at Vernon Downs.
Taco Tuesday ($5.30) flew out of the gate and led to a first quarter in :27.1. Pier Ho Exotic (Jimmy Whittemore) followed in the pocket second. Taco Tuesday, who is owned by Vincent Laurenzo and trained by Don Hoover, easily took the group to the half in :55.4. As the went around the last turn his lead got larger hitting three-quarters in 1:24.1. As he reached the top of the stretch it was apparent that the race was for second. Taco Tuesday won by nearly six lengths in the end hitting the mile in 1:54.1. First Call (Homer Hochstetler) was second best with Mckenzies Star getting third money.
Taco Tuesday is a five-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall. It was his fifth win this year. He now has 17 career trips to the winner’s circle.
Blameitonthenight and driver Jimmy Whittemore came out on top in Friday’s $6,000 feature for pacing fillies and mares.
Blameitonthenight ($4.70) charged out of the gate and never looked back putting up all the fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:26 before stepping home in :28 to stop the clock in 1:54.
Owned by Scott Dillon and trained by Whittemore, she withstood the late pressure from second place finisher Mydelight Bluechip (Ben McNeil) to secure the win. Heart Crusher (Josh Kinney) finished third.
Blameitonthenight is a four-year-old mare by Mach Three. It was her fourth win of the season and the ninth victory of her career.
Leading driver Jimmy Whittemore won three on the night to give him 104 wins on the season. He got his wins with Pegasus Point ($7.30), Blameitonthenight ($4.70) and Star Flyer ($4.50). John MacDonald , who is currently second, drove his 100th winner of the season with Mean Leen ($3.30)
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday with a 13-race card starting at 6:10 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)