The Evictor made fast work of seven high-stepping Open rivals, while Hold On Tightly became the first three-time winner of the season at Vernon Downs on Friday night (April 26).
With Marcus Miller doing the teaming for trainer John Butenschoen in race 10, The Evictor took over from Yankee Manny in the stretch drive and powered to an impressive 1:54.3 victory, the fastest trotting mile of the five-program season at the central New York seven-eighths-mile harness track.
The quick-striding score was the first locally, the second this season and the 14th overall for the five-year-old son of Valley Victory, a career earner of more than $473,000 who is shared in ownership by William C. Wiswell and Jean Goehlen.
Hold On Tightly continued his first-place fetish with a sparkling 1:57.1 tally for trainer and driver Roman Lopez in race nine, fourth and final qualifying division in the second leg of the new Catherine Burton Memorial Trotting Series. It was a career-best performance for the four-year-old son of Cash Hall, who is registered to Richard Thurlow, and the swiftest series score to date.
Henry Wilson began the program with a Burton Series double, scoring with Majestic Won (1:58.1) in the opener and Beautiful Babe (1:58.4) in Friday’s second session. Both square-gaiters are owned by Joan Rae Ellafrits and Lynn Wilson.
Defending dash and training champ Rick Plano piloted Frisky Girl to a 1:59.1 maiden-breaking victory in Friday’s s other Burton donnybrook. Peter Carney conditions the five-year-old daughter of Frisky Fighter for Anne Wheeler and Dr. Robert Keller.
In addition to driver/trainer Wilson, Plano produced his second four-win outing at Vernon in 2013 during Friday’s 13-race card, while Miller also won with the Jenny Melander-owned and trained trotter Don Dinero (1:58.4) in the evening’s 11th event. It was the first career tally for the seven-year-old son of Revenue S.
The Burton Series will conclude with a championship clash next Saturday night (May 4).
(Vernon Downs)