There was plenty of early speed put up in Thursday’s $5,600 top trot at Vernon Downs, but when the tempo started to slow Warrawee Preferred was there to pick up the pieces.
Jim Taggart, Jr. got away fourth with the Kerin Warner-trained Warrawee Preferred while Only Passing Thru and Wings Of Royalty butted heads to the quarter pole in :27.2. The latter eventually moved to the top and proceeded to carve out middle panels of :56 and 1:24.2. Warrawee Preferred found late clearance and used a :29.2 closing quarter to win by a neck over race favourite Wings Of Royalty in 1:54.4. Fashionwoodchopper was third.
Sent off at odds of 9-1, the nine-year-old son of Federal Flex-Warrawee Kate improved his 2020 record to 3-2-0 from nine tries with the win. The 46-time winner has banked over $260,000 to date. He’s owned by Scott Woogen of North Chesterfield, VA.
Vernon Downs will host its next card of racing on Wednesday, June 17 at 4 p.m.