After being shoved three-wide by Painite on the entry to the far turn, Barn Girl ($10.00) made a push to the fore only to be collared by the offender in Saturday (June 27) evening's $8,000 Mares Open II Trot at Vernon Downs. Ultimately, Barn Girl was placed the winner ahead of Painite as a result of the aforementioned interference.
Jimmy Whittemore settled toward the back of the pack with the three-year-old Cash Hall filly, racing well behind a :27.2 first quarter clicked off by Saint Pattys Doll (Greg Merton) and a :57.1 first half attended by the first-over Concentration (Chris Lems). Moving into the far turn, Barn Girl angled second-over, but was carried deeper out by Painite (Truman Gale), who vacated the pegs without clearance three-eighths from home. Nonetheless, Barn Girl sustained her rally, working to the lead in the final 150 yards before Painite swept to the grandstand side and narrowly finished first past the post. As a result of the interference on the far turn, however, Painite was relegated to second behind the offended Barn Girl, placed the winner in 1:56.1. Torches Star (Claude Huckabone III) rallied from the back of the pack to take third over the pacesetting Saint Pattys Doll.
Howard Okusko trains Barn Girl for the Out In The Country Stable, along with Steven and Nancy Pratt.
Whittemore also won with Misty Major ($7.20), earning a driving double on the 11-race card. Chris Lems and Greg Merton also each scored two wins on the program.
(With files from Vernon Downs)