A compact group of six faced the gate in Thursday’s $5,600 featured trot at Vernon Downs, and there was no stopping Fashionwoodchopper once he started his stretch rally.
In rein to trainer/driver Claude Huckabone III, Fashionwoodchopper got away fifth while Warrawee Preferred rolled to the lead and sliced out splits of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:25.4. Huckabone had the favourite driving first over on the way to the three-quarter pole, and Fashionwoodchopper then used a :28.3 closing quarter to win by 1-3/4 lengths over If Not Why Not in 1:55. Warrawee Preferred took home third prize.
The five-year-old son of Donato Hanover-Woodshopper, who is owned by Howard Jacobs of West Orange, NJ, won for the first time this season and for the 11th time in his career. The classy campaigner has banked over $450,000 to date.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 2) with a post time of 4:00 p.m. On Saturday (July 4) ‘The Miracle Mile’ will feature the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for three-year-old trotters. New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman pacing fillies will make their debut that day, as well. Post time for the July 4th program is 1:10 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)