Favourite Prospectors Gold ($2.30) and driver Chris Long won the Saturday, May 31 feature at Vernon Downs, a $10,274 conditioned optional claiming pace.
Prospectors Gold blasted out of the gate and led to the quarter in :28 over the sloppy track. He then stole a :30.1 second-quarter breather to the half in :58.1. Twin B Kingston (Frank Affrunti) went first-up from third heading to the final turn but could not get close to the leader as Prospectors Gold kept clear on top to three-quarters in 1:26. Down the stretch, War Of Will (Leon Bailey) and Mask On Mask Off (Jimmy Whittemore) went all out after the leader but Prospectors Gold was too strong and scored in 1:54.2 by a length. War Of Will edged out Mask On Mask Off for the runner-up honours.
Prospectors Gold, a six-year-old gelding by Huntsville out of Ramalama, is owned and trained by Gary Levine. He's won four of his last five starts and now has 16 career wins with earnings just shy of $130,000.
Jeff Sorenson had a training triple on the 12-race card, winning three consecutive races with Manasquan Beach ($13.40, Dylan Huckabone-Miller), Seaside Sunset ($13.20, Steeven Genois) and Rally Your Crew ($18.60, Irvin Crews).
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday, June 5, with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)