Super Soph ($15.40) vaulted off cover in upper stretch and sprinted off to a 1:52 victory in Friday (July 1) evening's $8,000 Miracle Mile/Open Mares Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs.
Brett Derue took the six-year-old Admirals Galley mare to last of the quartet as All Charged Up (John MacDonald) controlled the terms through splits of :26.3 and :56.3. On the far turn, Derue angled Super Soph second-over to track live cover behind Southern Girl (Truman Gale) through a :27.2 third quarter before fanning wide off the corner. Despite All Charged Up's best efforts to stave off a second foe, Super Soph pushed clear in mid-stretch to prevail by a widening one and three-quarter lengths. All Charged Up held second, while Southern Girl faded to third. Love You Bye (Jimmy Whittemore) gapped the pocket off the far turn, finishing last of the four.
Jackie Rousse trains Super Soph for owner Mark Wamp.
John MacDonald enjoyed a banner Canada Day in the States, leading all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card. "The Prime Minister" recorded a natural hat trick with a trio of favourites: Kesons Silhouette ($3.20, 1:55.2) in the fourth, Capriccio Hanover ($4.30, 1:57.4) in the fifth, and I Saw Red ($3.30, 1:55.4) in the sixth.
(Vernon Downs)