An enthusiastic crowd of 3,764 helped usher in the 59th live harness racing season at Vernon Downs on Friday night
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The pacer Dovetail (1:54.1) and trotter Aruba Vacation (1:54.3) shrugged off mid-30-degree temperatures to record the evening’s fastest miles as the central New York seven-eighths-mile track kicked off its 90-card campaign in speedy style.
“The fan support on this chilly evening was great and helped set the tone for a successful launch to our live racing schedule,” said Jason Settlemoir, vice-president for racing and simulcasting at both Vernon Downs and its sister track Tioga Downs, located in Nichols. “We hope to parlay this auspicious opening into one of the finest and most exciting seasons in the track’s long and proud history.”
Dovetail earned her fourth win on the current campaign with her quick-footed score in the $9,500 Open test for female pacers. With Fern Paquet Jr. driving, the determined mare chased down the pacesetting Glam Cam in the final strides to post a head victory in the featured sixth event. It marked the 14th lifetime victory for the brown daughter of Dragon Again-Western Dove, who is trained by Jamie Paquet and owned by the FBP Racing Stable.
Aruba Vacation’s sterling effort occurred in the next event, a $7,600 Winners Over contest, with Paquet again doing the teaming, this time for trainer Guy Howard and the Howard Stables. The confident five-year-old gelding led throughout and stretched his winning advantage to eight lengths at the finish. It was the initial season’s outing for the productive homebred son of Dream Vacation-Dixie Hit, who bumped his career winnings to more than $346,500.
In addition to Paquet’s two-bagger, drivers Chris Lems and Jimmy Whittemore chalked up a triple and double, respectively, during the evening’s 10-race program.
The Downs will present a 12-race card, including the weekend’s $9,500 Open Pace, starting at 6:55 p.m. on Saturday (April 28). The track’s basic Thursday-Saturday night weekly slate begins on May 3.
(With files from Vernon Downs)