Vernon Downs will play host to the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for sophomore trotters of each sex on Friday, June 12, with several Grand Circuit contenders set to throw down.
The morning-line favourite in the $195,020 USD EBC for fillies is Nezuko Kamado S (PP8, Scott Zeron, 2-1). She won the inaugural Big Apple last year and enters Friday's clash following a win in a New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) prelim in her sophomore bow. The filly by Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos It is trained by Marcus Melander.
She will renew her rivalry with Storybook Love (PP3, Todd Ratchford, 7-1), who defeated her in the 2025 Breeders Crown final. Storybook Love, trained by Matt Bax, finished second to the chalk in their most recent meeting in an NYSS contest at Vernon on May 25.
Defending NYSS champion Sharp Seven (PP2, Jeff Gregory, 3-1) is another contender. The Chapter Seven-Lookin Sharp filly, trained by George Ducharme, is six-for-14 lifetime and was second last out in the NYSS.
Spencer Hanover (PP6, Jason Bartlett, 6-5) will be the one to beat in the $176,500 USD EBC for colts and geldings. The colt by Chapter Seven-Secret Passion was a Breeders Crown champion as a freshman and is three-for-three this year, including victories in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and a leg of the NYSS at Vernon.
The Ron Burke-trained Ai (PP1, Tyler Buter, 3-1) looks to be a main threat. The colt by Chapter Seven-Image Of Bee, an NYSS champion at two, has two seconds and a fourth in three 2026 starts. Also in the field is Read The Room (PP2, Sarah Svanstedt, 5-2), who won an NYSS leg last out for trainer Ake Svanstedt.
Vernon will also feature a $121,800 USD leg of the NYSS for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Knoxville (PP6, Tyler Buter, 2-1) and Unmatched Wisdom (PP7, Leon Bailey, 5-2) are the top two morning-line choices. Both have an NYSS win this season. The Ray Schnittker-trained Knoxville, three-for-14 lifetime, is a colt by Huntsville-Lets Fall In Love. Chuck Connor Jr. trains Unmatched Wisdom, a gelding by American Ideal-Above Average, who has seven wins in 14 lifetime outings.
The 13 race-card starts at 12:15 pm.
(With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Storybook Love winning on Oct. 24, 2025)