Longshot Rub Me and driver Steeven Genois took the $8,700 featured pace at Vernon Downs on Saturday (Oct. 29).
At gate’s dispatch, Frontier Rollo went straight to the front and led until the quarter in :26.3 while Party Boy challenged for the lead as they went down the backstretch. Frontier Rollo led at the half in :55.2 before shaking off Party Boy and continuing to lead at three-quarters in 1:24.1.
As they made the turn for home, Warrawee Unique popped the pocket and went after Frontier Rollo. Rub Me split horses and blew by to win in 1:52.4. Warrawee Unique had to settle for second money. Northern Rein finished third.
Rub Me is a five-year-old gelding by Badlands Hanover. He is owned by Phillipe Trudeau, Isabelle Labbe and trainer Fannie Saul-Beaulieu. It was his fifth win this season and 14th lifetime victory. He paid $38.60 to win.
Jacob Bouck, who is 20 years old, picked up his first pari-mutuel win when he slipped through an opening by the pylons with Road Ready Wes, who paid $39 for the victory. The five-year-old gelding is owned by Phillip Doyle and trained by Hannah Miller.
To celebrate the track’s Halloween Bash, drivers and trainers participated in a special bicycle race. Leon Bailey won with Marissa Chadbourne getting second as Jacob Bouck finished third.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (Nov. 4) at 6:05 p.m. (EDT).
(Vernon Downs)