Favourite A Penny Earned lived up to his top billing with a 1:54.4 victory in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot, while Scofanman secured the fastest mile, a 1:54.1 pacing triumph, on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.
Assigned the outside six post in Saturday’s first race, A Penny Earned went right to the front off the starting gate and stayed in the lead throughout, defeating Margarita Man by nearly four lengths. Chris Lems did the steering for trainer/part-owner George Ducharme as the four-year-old son of Conway Hall and Penny Dream delivered a fresh win-mark, his second season’s score and 10th lifetime tally. The lifetime winner of $216,556 is also owned by Alfred Ross, Nicola Oliva and Paul Fontaine.
Trainer Brian Connor was the chauffeur of Scofanman, who zipped around a damp Vernon oval to post his first current victory and third career tally in Saturday’s $3,000 third event. The four-year-old son of No Pan Intended and Dark Fiber took command in the clubhouse curve and never looked back en route to a three and three-quarter length score for owners Arnold Merola, Kathleen Merola and Bob Barnello.
Lems also won Saturday’s second race with the Champion Stable’s trotter Rockway (2:00.4) to chalk up his meet-leading fifth double. Driver Truman Gale also earned a pair of win-credits during the track’s 13th racing program with the pacer Western Deuce in 1:55.4 and trotter Here Comes Annie in 1:56.3.
Leading trainer Roman Lopez (14 conditioning credits) also posted two driving tallies during Saturday’s nine-race card.
Live racing will resume at the Downs at 1:15 p.m. on Monday as the track presents a nine-race Memorial Day matinee and a 60th anniversary baseball cap giveaway (free while supplies last).
(With files from Vernon Downs)