Driver Leon Bailey celebrated his 40th birthday with style as he won half of the 12 races on the Friday, Oct. 23 card at Vernon Downs.
Bailey's birthday wins included the featured $10,563 conditioned optional claiming trot with City Of Hope ($7.28), who led at every call in a 1:54.4 mile. Inquisitive Dan (John MacDonald) finished 1-1/4-length back in second from the pocket while Swan Jewel (Jacob Cutting) closed for third. Trainer David Dewhurst co-owns the six-year-old Mets Hall-Doin The City gelding, a career winner of 36 races and nearly $440,000, with Philip Hale of Utica, New York.
Bailey also teamed up for a victory with Dewhurst and Hale's 65-time winning trotter Discus Hanover ($6.02) and drove a trio of winners for trainer Michelle Warner, including pacing mares Miley Rose ($2.40) and Onspeed N ($46.72) and trotting gelding Bet Big On Blue ($5.06). He capped off the card with a victory in rein to the Shawn Garland-trained trotter Jesmach Onyx ($5.30).
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, Oct. 24 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)