The favourites, trotter Joxter ($3.10) and pacer Syracuse Express ($2.50), were victorious with career-best efforts in a pair of $11,644 Opens featured at Vernon Downs on Saturday, May 18.
In the Open Trot, second choice Bourbon Express (John MacDonald) grabbed the early lead and was first to the quarter in :26.2 before taking a second quarter breather to the half in :55.2. Trainer/driver Dan Daley made his move going first-up from fifth with Joxter around the final turn as Bourbon Express led to three-quarters in 1:24.1. As they reached the stretch, Joxter took control and won easily in a lifetime best of 1:52.3 by 2-3/4 lengths. Makadushin N Cheez (Ron Harp) came up to take second while Bourbon Express finished third.
A six-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven, Joxter made his fifth start of the season a winning one following back-to-back runner-up finishes for owner Ann-Mari Daley. Now a 23-time career winner, he's banked more than $185,000 in purses.
In the Open Pace, Syracuse Express (pictured above) and driver John MacDonald laid down all the early fractions (:26, :55 and 1:23) in the short field that was scratched down to just four. As they made the turn for home, Primo Uomo (Leon Bailey) pulled out of the pocket and went after the leader. Syracuse Express dug in and Primo Uomo kept coming, but the former held on by a neck to win in a lifetime best of 1:50.3. Primo Uomo settled for second and To The Hunt (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) finished four lengths back in third.
Syracuse Express, a five-year-old son of American Ideal, is owned by James DeArmond, Sal Vullo and trainer Jessica Okusko. The win was his first in two seasonal starts and he now has 12 career victories with more than $111,000 in earnings.
John MacDonald had a driving grand slam and Leon Bailey had a driving hat trick. Jessica Okusko, Dan Daley, Claude Huckabone III and Leopold Sawyers all had training doubles.
Live harness racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Friday, May 24 at 4 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)