Restless Yankee was a 1:50.4 upset winner in Saturday night’s $12,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Vernon Downs.
The favourite, track record-holder JK Panache, took the early lead in Saturday’s second session, while second choice Sheer Brilliance, winner in the last two Open events at Vernon, settled into the pocket. Driver and trainer Chris Lems kept 8-1 shot Restless Yankee in fourth place past the three-quarters in 1:22.4.
As the top choices wore each other down entering the stretch charge, Restless Yankee came on in a :27.1 final panel to secure the victory, defeating runner-up Western Tsunami by a head.
It marked the third local tally, seventh season’s score and the 47th lifetime victory for the six-year-old son of Relentless Yankee-Towners Love Dove, who is owned by Robert J. and Ryan J. Lems. The gritty gelding is currently a career winner of nearly $242,000.
Lems also finished first with the Ryan J. Lems-owned pacer Ding Dong Boy (1:53.2) in Saturday’s fourth event to record his meet-leading 22nd driving double. Two-win performances were also turned in by Roman Lopez, Truman Gale and Claude Huckabone III.
Provisional pilot James Clouser Jr. earned his initial Vernon victory behind TM Valley Storm (1:56.4) in Saturday’s 11th event. The sophomore gelding is owned by Leonard Segall.
(Vernon Downs)