Sweet Deisel and Tempster Hanover each captured a $5,000 co-featured pace Saturday at Vernon Downs.
In the first of two co-features it was Western Toro (John MacDonald) to the front controlling all the early fractions (:26.3, :57, 1:25.4). Golden Gun (Claude Huckabone, Jr.) popped out of the pocket and challenged Western Toro for the lead as they reached the stretch.
Sweet Deisel ($25.40), who is trained by Dan Daley for owners Ann-Mari Daley, James Crawford IV, and Crawford Farms Racing, would go three-wide in the stretch. It would turn into a two-horse race in deep stretch between Golden Gun and Sweet Deisel. In the end Sweet Deisel was too strong and won in a lifetime best of 1:53.2 for driver Dan Daley. Golden Gun had to settle for second. Western Toro held on to finish third.
Sweet Deisel is a three-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. It was his fourth win this season. He now has six career victories.
Tempster Hanover ($14.20) romped in the second feature.
Daliocity (Ben McNeil) led to the first quarter in :27.2. Tempster Hanover then zoomed right by hitting the half in :55.4 and three quarters in 1:24. He is owned by Riley Asher-Stalbaum and trained by Misty Carey. When they hit the stretch it was all over. The nine-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere won by five lengths in 1:51.3 for driver Howard Parker. Come Get The Cash (John MacDonald) came up late to finish a distant second. Rocknrollroyalty (Claude Huckabone, Jr.) was third.
Tempster Hanover won for the second time this season. He now has 29 career victories.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing with a 10-race card featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday. Post time is 6:10 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)