William Ballard’s Gimme The Cash ($3.40) held off all comers in Friday (November 4) evening’s featured $6,700 trotting event at Vernon Downs, living up to odds-on billing.
The five-year-old Cash Hall mare sprinted to the fore early, clearing Count Speed (John MacDonald) with ease before controlling the terms through :27.1, :56.3, and 1:25.2 sectionals. Upon reaching head-stretch, Gimme The Cash responded to pressure from Count Speed up the pegs, but was also faced with a threat from the late-emerging My Lucky Word (Truman Gale) in the last yards. Ultimately, Gimme The Cash prevailed by a nose over My Lucky Word in 1:54.3, while Count Speed was a gamely chasing third.
Angus MacDonald trains Gimme The Cash, who took her 13th career win and third in her last four tries. For driver Chris Lems, the featured win kicked off a hat trick on the 13-race card only to be outdone by John MacDonald, who led all drivers with four victories on the night.
Saturday (November 5) evening’s closing night program features the annual “Turn Back the Clock Rewind Race,” conducted clockwise at seven-eighths of a mile, as the eighth of 12 dashes carded. Horsemen and bettors alike should note a special 6 p.m. post time for the closing night card, with fireworks to follow.
(Vernon Downs)