Parkhill Horton ($24.60) took full advantage of a clear pocket trip in Saturday's $7,500 top-level Miracle Mile Trot at Vernon Downs, upsetting odds-on pacesetter Lucid Thoughts in 1:54.4.
Truman Gale secured the pocket from the outset with the eight-year-old Oaklea Julian gelding, yielding to Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) and drafting cozily through splits of :27.3, :56.4, and 1:25.3. Just above the eighth pole, Parkhill Horton vacated the pegs, reeled in Lucid Thoughts, and edged away to a one and a half length victory while driven. Lucid Thoughts held second, while Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore) sustained a mild bid off the far turn to capture third.
Trainer Robert Gale co-owns Parkhill Horton with Jeffrey Agan and David Adsit.
The "New York Night Train" also took the evening's sub-featured $5,500 Miracle Mile trotting event in upset fashion with 15-1 longshot Painite ($33.60). Jocelyn Gale, Truman's wife, handles the training duties of the seven-year-old Plesac mare, who rallied down the grandstand side off a third-over trip to just collar 8-5 favourite Gaelic And Garlic (Claude Huckabone III) in 1:55.1.
A 14-race Sunday evening card completes the racing week at Vernon Downs, with the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for three-year-old trotters sharing center stage with the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies. Post time is slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
(Vernon Downs)