Bluesville and Merrow finished in a dead heat for the win in the featured $11,972 conditioned pace at Vernon Downs on Friday, Oct. 24.
Merrow and Leon Bailey got the first call, but Bluesville and Ron Harp surged forward took over, leading the compact field of five through fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.2 with Syracuse Express (John MacDonald) advancing first-up to challenge going around the final turn. Bluesville held a short lead as they entered the stretch and Merrow, the lone sophomore in the field, slipped through on the inside and those two hit the line at the same time, finishing in a dead heat in 1:52.3, with Gold Star Sven (Steeven Genois) joining the fray off cover and just a nose shy. Syracuse Express finished a length back between rivals in the blanket finish while Major Leaguer (Jimmy Whittemore) completed the order.
Bluesville, a six-year-old Huntsville-Dontcrymetheblues gelding, is trained by Harp and owned by Big Sky Ranch of Bouckville, New York. The win counted as his sixth of the season from 14 starts and his 25th victory lifetime.
Merrow, an Ontario Sires Stakes-winning colt by Stag Party out of Siobhan, is currently campaigned by trainer Joe Sansone and owner Suheil Ashkar of Liverpool, New York. A nine-time career winner, he is now seven-for-20 this year.
Merrow paid $2.32 to win as the even-money favourite while Bluesville returned $2.54 to his backers as the 8-5 second choice.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday with post time at 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)