Fans attending Sunday’s special 13-race matinee program at Vernon Downs got to witness a track record performance by trotter A Penny Earned, the fastest pacing mile of the track’s 60th season to date, as well as top-notch performances by Tirade Hanover, Jurgen Hanover, Wygant Lady and Perfect Alliance, among others.
Sunday’s $10,000 Open Trot was won by A Penny Earned, who lowered his lifetime mark to 1:53.2 with a bold-going effort in race 10, which proved to be a fresh Vernon standard for four-year-old trotting horses. The 1:53.4 previous low for this class was set by Coraggioso back on May 3. The win was one of three straight scores during the afternoon by Chris Lems, who did the driving for trainer/owner George Ducharme and his partners Alfred Ross, Paul Fontaine and Nicola Oliva.
The slick-striding Sheer Brilliance recorded the 17-program meeting’s quickest mile by a laterally-gaited equine following a 1:50.3 sizzler in Sunday’s $10,000 Open Pace (race eight). Sean Bier steered the veteran gelding for part-owner and trainer Jeffrey Long and J. Paul Long.
Tirade Hanover converted a pocket trip into a 1:53.1 performance in race seven, that tied the Vernon speed standard for 2013 on the diagonal gait that had been set by Spring Goal on May 10. Victor Kirby teamed the three-year-old gelding to victory in one of Sunday’s four $12,500 elimination divisions in the $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic for New York-bred sophomore trotters. Tyler Raymer conditions the swift-striding and capable youngster for owners Leigh Raymer, Stephen Moss, Harold and Helane Solomon. Pacesetter Modest Prince was second-placed-third after a break in stride with Blackwolf Run inheriting the runner-up spot.
Sunday’s other male elimination division was captured by Jurgen Hanover, who remained unbeaten after six seasonal starts. David Miller guided him to a 1:54.1 victory in race nine for trainer Donna Marshall and owners Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley and the T L P Stable. Twisted Pretzel followed in second and Pine Credit finished third.
Cat Manzi won the initial filly elimination clash (race three) with a from-last Wygant Lady, who earned a 1:56.1 speed-mark and her fourth score in eighth current starts. Part-owner Taylor Gower conditions the fractious filly for his ownership partner Alan Stull. Fifty Shades and Isabella Gal finished second and third while the popular Dan Patch Award winner To Dream On broke stride at the three-quarters taking herself out of contention.
Favourite Perfect Alliance rewarded her backers with a gate-to-wire, career-best 1:55.2 triumph in Sunday’s fifth event. Yannick Gingras did the sulky-sitting for trainer Robert Bencal and the Little E, LLC ownership contingent. Lola De Vie finished second and Royal Melinda was third.
The 2013 EBC championship races for males and females will be contested at the Downs next Sunday, June 9, with first post time at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)