Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell's Card Knock Life cleared his five rivals and never looked back in Saturday evening's $8,000 Open II Pace at Vernon Downs, sprinting off late for a 20-1 upset in the featured event.
Trainer/driver Truman Gale left aggressively with the five-year-old Western Ideal gelding, clearing Sassy Hanover (Claude Huckabone, III) and Golden Gun (Tyler Freese) in the opening furlong. Card Knock Life managed to rate a :56 first half mile before accelerating through the far turn, posting a :27.3 third sectional while edging clear of Sassy Hanover. Meanwhile, Greg Merton commenced a first-over rally with odds-on favourite No Monkeys Allowed, slow to gain through the far turn but improving drastically upon turning for home. Despite No Monkeys Allowed's late rally, Card Knock Life held clear by 1-3/4 lengths, driven to prevail in 1:51.1. He paid $42.60.
Fresh off his 3,000th career driving win, John MacDonald registered a grand slam on the evening's 11-race program. The Prince Edward Island native teamed up with Fox Valley Cadet ($4.10, 1:58.2), Shock N Rock ($2.60, 1:53.3), Tarport Andy ($5.30, 1:55), and HMS Firecracker ($14.00, 1:57.3).
(Vernon Downs)