Ellen McNeil’s Looney Dune proved simply dominant at even money in Thursday (October 20) evening’s featured $6,100 distaff pace at Vernon Downs, controlling the pace en route to an eight-length win.
The eight-year-old Bettors Delight mare sprinted clear from her outside post 5 with ease, leading pocket rival Love You Bye (Fern Paquet, Jr.) through early sectionals of :26.2 and :55. With five-sixteenths of the mile to go, Ben McNeil encouraged Looney Dune to accelerate away, and she responded by mounting an eight-length lead while driven out to a 1:51.2 triumph. Tiger Boudoir (Truman Gale) wedged through up the pegs to claim the runner-up spot, while Jinxys Delight (John MacDonald) rallied off stalled cover to take third, another length back.
John McNeil, III trains Looney Dune ($4.10), whose sixth seasonal win increased her career tally to 39. For Ben McNeil, the win capped a driving double on the nine-race card. Chris Lems, John MacDonald, and Fern Paquet, Jr. also accounted for two wins apiece.
Live racing returns to the Miracle Mile with a 10-race card on Friday evening; post time is 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)