Trainer David Dewhurst swept the co-featured Opens at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Oct. 12 with pacer Primo Uomo and trotter Discus Hanover.
In the Open Pace, favourite Primo Uomo and driver Leon Bailey led the way, setting fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.2 before holding off a from-last Syracuse Express (Adam Capizzano) by half a length in 1:53. Galactic Storm (Jimmy Whittemore) finished third.
A runner-up in Vernon's Open a week ago, Primo Uomo was the odds-on favourite and paid $3.90 to win. The four-year-old gelding by Heston Blue Chip recorded his sixth win of the season from 33 starts and now boasts 23 victories lifetime with earnings topping the $200,000 mark. Primo Uomo is trained by Dewhurst for owners Chris and Dale Lawton.
Discus Hanover topped the trotters after making a three-wide move at the three-quarters mark and kicking home in :29 to prevail over early leaders Raybarnz (Ivan Davies) and the favoured Sevenshotsobourbon (Tom Merton) by half a length in 1:56.
Discus Hanover, who won the Open the last time he raced at Vernon on Sept. 27, was the second choice in the wagering and paid $5.30 to win. Owned by Dewhurst and Philip Hale, the seven-year-old gelding by Credit Winner has earned seven victories and a dozen runner-up finishes from 29 starts this year. The 48-time career winner has banked more than $300,000.
The feature wins were part of a training triple on 13-race card for Dewhurst, who also sent out sophomore pacing gelding Gessna ($8.70) to a 1:56.2 victory with Bailey in the bike.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday, Oct. 18 at 6:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs; Photo of Discus Hanover winning on Oct. 12)