A compact group of six faced the starting gate in Saturday’s $7,300 feature race at Vernon Downs, with Pantheon Hanover using last minute heroics to capture the lion’s share of the loot.
Pantheon Hanover got away fifth while Sassy Hanover and JDs Brent N Sheree took turns on the lead through fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:23.3. Pantheon Hanover came first-over on the way to the half, and he was third and pressing as the field headed past the three-quarter pole. He used a :28.3 closing quarter to win by a half-length margin over Sassy Hanover in 1:52.4. Taking home the show dough was JDs Brent N Sheree.
Chris Lems guided the David Dewhurst pupil to the winning effort. The 17-time winner improved this year’s record to 3-2-0 from 10 trips to the track while pushing his lifetime earnings to $117,859 for Dewhurst and partner Philip Hale of New Hartford, NY.