Karma Racing's Southwind Trini got the jump on her six rivals in Thursday night's $10,000 Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs, brushing to the lead upon arrival on the backstretch and kicking clear for a 1:51.3 triumph.
Now a 24-time winner, the six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare was involved in stringing out dueling leaders Park N Orchard and Seascape Hanover before settling just off a sizzling :25.4 first quarter. Jim Marohn, Jr. then made his move with Southwind Trini on the backstretch, clearing easily through a more reasonable :54.3 half mile.
With odds-on favourite Arodasi behind slowly-developing cover at the back of the pack with a quarter mile to go, Marohn turned Southwind Trini loose, extending the lead to four lengths past mid-stretch. Meanwhile, Arodasi - carried five-wide - charged gamely down the stand side to pass Dirty Girty, who was carried four-wide after a mild first-over rally. The heavily backed Arodasi only could muster second, as Southwind Trini held clear by 2-1/2 lengths while kept to task. Dirty Girty stayed on for third.
Patti Harmon handles the training duties of Southwind Trini, who earned a new lifetime mark with her seventh win on the year. The mare paid $11.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday evening, with first post set for 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)