Driver Chris Long swept the $10,417 co-features at Vernon Downs on Friday, May 9 with trotter Emotions Riches ($3.70) and pacer Prospectors Gold ($6.10).
In Vernon's top conditioned trot, Century Invader (Leon Bailey) took the early lead but favourite Emotions Riches (pictured above) forged to the front just before hitting the quarter in :29.3. Long slowed things down with a :30.3 second quarter to reach the half in 1:00.2 before Emotions Riches posted back-to-back :28.2 panels to close it out, finishing 3-1/4 lengths ahead of the pocket-popping Century Invader while winning in 1:57.1 over the sloppy track. Grand Slam Hero (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) was third.
Emotions Riches, a seven-year-old gelding by Wheeling N Dealin, is owned by Richard Cortese and trainer Robyn Mangiardi. He has now won three in a row for a perfect Vernon record despite sloppy conditions in each of his local appearances.
In the pacing division, favourite Prospectors Gold went straight to the front in :27.1 then breezed to the half in :57.2. Excursion (Leon Bailey) came first-up to challenge as they went around the final turn with Prospectors Gold first to three-quarters in 1:25.1. As they battled down the stretch, Jo Pas Warrior (Shawn Gray) became the major danger but Prospectors Gold prevailed over that rival in 1:53.2 by 1-1/2 lengths. Excursion had to settle for third.
Prospectors Gold, a six-year-old gelding by Huntsville, is owned and trained by Gary Levine. He's also perfect at the Vernon oval with back-to-back wins.
Long ended the night with a driving grand slam on the 11-race card.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, May 10, with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)