Let Them Gossip pulled off an upset victory in the $10,714 featured pace for fillies and mares at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Oct. 3, part of a training triple for Rob Harmon.
Better Double Flip (Leon Bailey) left alertly from the gate to establish control, carving out an opening quarter mile in :27.4 while Let Them Gossip and driver Chris Long settled comfortably directly behind her in the pocket. Bailey was able to tap the brakes down the backstretch, guiding the favourite through an easy half-mile fraction of :58. Mybitcoin (John Macdonald) launched a powerful first-over bid from fifth, pressing hard on the outside to draw even with the leader at the three-quarter pole. Better Double Flip was first to three quarters in 1:26.4.
As they reached mid-stretch, Let Them Gossip found an opening near the pylons. She easily surged past the tiring leader in the final sixteenth to win by a length and a half. Better Double Flip stayed on to save second, while Mybitcoin fought bravely to finish third.
Let Them Gossip is a three-year-old filly by Sunshine Beach, owned by Harmon Racing Stable LLC and Alexandra Skowyra while trained by Rob Harmon. The triumph was win number 11 this season and the filly now has 13 career victories. She paid $11.68 to win.
Trainer Harmon and driver Long combined for a hat trick. Frank Affrunti had a driving triple.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (Oct. 9) featuring the Big Apple Finals with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)