Millionaire distaffer Racine Bell ($2.70) and driver John MacDonald won the $11,644 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs on Friday, May 24.
Racine Bell took off into a heavy headwind and led to the quarter in :27.4 while Fear Her Touch (Leon Bailey) tried to keep up in second. Racine Bell glided to the half in :56 and she started to take off as the mares raced around the final turn to three-quarters in 1:22.4. As the field entered the stretch, the race was already over. Racine Bell cruised home in a seasonal best of 1:52.1. P L Princess C (Jeff Long) was second and Summer Slash (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished third.
Racine Bell is a seven-year-old mare by So Surreal. The career winner of more than $1.2 million is trained by David Dewhurst for owners Chris and Dale Lawton. She earned her second win this season from 11 starts and now has 39 career victories.
MacDonald and Frank Affrunti each had driving doubles on Friday's card. George Ducharme had a training double.
Live racing returns at Vernon Downs on Saturday, May 25 at 6:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)