Mask On Mask Off ($9.60) and trainer/driver Jimmy Whittemore were victorious in the week's top class at Vernon Downs, a $10,417 conditioned pace, featured on the Saturday, April 26 card.
Aces Or Bettor (Justin Huckabone) went straight to the front but favourite Fess Up N (Chris long) wrestled the lead away just before hitting the quarter first in 27 seconds over the sloppy track. Fess Up N then rated steady middle fractions leading to the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Aces Or Bettor popping out of the pocket and battling for the lead going around the final turn. As they reached the stretch, Whittemore made his move sending Mask On Mask Off three-wide to join the battle down the lane and got up to win in 1:55 flat by a quarter of a length. Fess Up N had to settle for second money and Aces Or Bettor finished third.
Owned by Glasser Racing, Mask On Mask Off is a six-year-old gelding by Always B Miki out of the Bettors Delight mare Ubetterthink Think. The victory was his first of the year in 14 starts following a handful of top three finishes while competing at four other tracks before Vernon's meet began last week. Lifetime, he has won 13 races while earning $174,034 in purses.
Whittemore had a driving double on the 10-race card, also steering the Joseph Skowyra-trained Hout Bay ($8.90) to a 1:59.4 victory in a neck decision over Lyons Coppertop.
Chris Long and Justin Huckabone also had driving doubles while Robin Mangiardi had two training wins.
Live harness racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Friday, May 2 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)