With the backing of the bettors, Uncle Rat made his Vernon Downs debut a winning one in the $11,972 Open Handicap Trot on Friday, July 17.
In the Friday feature, the mare Chapvious took control early, reaching the first quarter in :29 and the half in :59.4 for the hot-handed Leon Bailey. What A Mission (Michael Miller) went first-up from his midfield position in third and challenged while Chapvious held a short lead to three-quarters in 1:28.2. As the field headed down the lane, Tiktok Roy (Jimmy Whittemore) slipped through the inside and Uncle Rat came flying three-wide from behind for driver Chris Long, with the 2-5 favourite getting up in time to win in 1:56.1. Tiktok Roy finished three-quarters of a length back with Chapvious settling for third.
Following three straight wins at Saratoga Raceway, Uncle Rat added a Vernon victory to his resume for trainer Rob Harmon. The Uncle Peter-Royal Illusions gelding has earned the majority of his 12 career wins this season at age four, going nine-for-22.
He is owned by Go For Glory Stable of Metuchen, New Jersey, Matthew Lamont of Simpsonville, South Carolina and Harmon Racing Stable of Milford, Pennsylvania.
Vernon's leading driver Leon Bailey added another big night to his season, getting a six-pack during the 13-race card. He won with a pair of David Dewhurst trainees, Better Double Flip ($2.10) and Discus Hanover ($3.66), along with Chaparista ($2.26) for trainer Jessica Okusko, Ariana Isonthehunt ($4.48) for Luke Carswell, Wayward Bluechip ($4.08) for Dale Lawton and Zapaca ($6.48) for Gary Gibson.
Bailey is well on his way to his fifth dash title at Vernon; he currently has 65 wins this season.
(Vernon Downs & Standardbred Canada)