JK Panache ($9.60) took full advantage of a pocket trip on the far turn of Saturday (April 23) evening's $8,500 Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, finding a seam up the pegs in the final eighth and kicking clear to a 1:50.4 victory in the night's featured race.
Chris Lems vaulted clear with the seven-year-old Art Major gelding at race's outset, setting demanding early splits of :26.2 and :54.2 before ceding command to 1-5 favourite Ashleys Husband (Fern Paquet Jr.) on approach to the far turn. As Ashleys Husband worked to stave off pressure from an uncovered Titus Seelster (Jimmy Whittemore) off the far turn, JK Panache was able to draft along behind their :27 third-quarter duel before finding a seam up the inside in mid-stretch and bursting through. JK Panache ultimately put three and a half lengths on his competition, earning his 37th career win and his fourth on the year. Ashleys Husband held second, while Titus Seelster barely saved third from a late-rallying Ilikethemtrashy.
Trainer Dave Dewhurst shares ownership of JK Panache with Philip Hale.
In the first round of the Anthony Farina late-closing series for pacers, JDs Brent N Sheree ($2.40, Truman Gale, 1:53.3) and Galows Nightmare ($7.60, Chris Lems, 1:53) proved dominant in their respective $4,000 first-round divisions.
Truman Gale and John MacDonald each drove three winners on the 13-race card. Of note, Gale also recorded a training hat trick and an owning double.
The evening's 50-cent Pick 5 paid $420, with mid-price winners All Stienam ($11.60) and Im A Pop Star ($14) heading the sequence.
(Vernon Downs)