A Penny Earned certainly earned a hard-fought victory in Friday’s $10,000 Open Trot at Vernon Downs.
A Penny Earned sat the pocket trip for the majority of the mile right behind the betting favourite, Tirade Hanover. Tirade Hanover assumed the lead following an opening quarter-mile of :27. He then showed the way through a half-mile of :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 over the sloppy track. However, upon arriving at the top of the stretch, Tirade Hanover drifted away from the inside and A Penny Earned shot through the opening and surged to win in 1:56.
Chris Lems handled the drive expertly, patiently waiting for just such a seam. War Hero finished third after an unfortunate trip. War Hero had been third through the early stages and was shuffled back at the inside on the final turn as far back as fifth. He re-rallied through the lane and got up for third.
The winner, A Penny Earned, is owned by Alfred Ross, George Ducharme, Nicola Oliva of Massachusetts, and Paul Fontaine of Rhode Island. George Ducharme doubles as the trainer of A Penny Earned.
The $8,000 Open Trot for fillies and mares followed a similar pattern late as Ilovemymommy came through an inside opening in the stretch for Chris Lems and assumed command in the final eighth of a mile. She then held off strong charges from runner-up MC Tins Hope and third-place finisher Painite. Ilovemymommy trotted the mile in 1:57.
Ilovemymommy is owned by Karen Smith of New York and trained by Andy Gardner.
(Vernon Downs)