My Girl Lora joined five other harness horses with three wins in 14 programs at Vernon Downs after a 1:56 victory in Friday night’s $4,500 featured eighth race
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Looking for her second straight score, My Girl Lora went right to the lead from the word “go” and cut fractions of :27.1 to the quarter, :58.4 at the half and 1:28.1 entering the homestretch. With Jimmy Whittemore doing the teaming for his dad, owner-trainer Dennis Whittemore, the six-year-old daughter of Space Shuttle-Under The Sheets fended off a late charge by Billie Bella Chick to win by 1-1/2 lengths in the distaff claiming pace.
With the energetic tally, the crowd wagering choice ($4.80) bumped her season’s win output to four and raised her career earnings to more than $101,000.
My Girl Lora joined fellow sidewheelers Billie Bella Chick, Bet The Ranch, Proud American, Real Yankee, and the trotter Crown Rules as the winingest equine performers of the track’s 56th season.
Michael Calimeri’s pacer Lesleys Jlo Belle recorded the fastest mile of the evening after a convincing nine-length victory in Friday’s fifth event. The 1:55 clocking resulted in the first win of the year and a new win-mark for the Paul Minckler-trained mare.
Dash-winning leader Howard Okusko, Jr. (Mystic Splendor and Lesleys Jlo Belle) and Frank Antonacci (Lindy Of My Dreams and A Crown For Lindy) each earned driving doubles during the nine-race program.
(Vernon Downs)