Little Santamonica ($4.70) and driver Chris Lems won the $9,500 Fillies and Mares featured pace on Saturday night (July 22) at Vernon Downs.
The nine-year-old Little Steven mare, who is owned by Courtney Crawford and trained by Jordan Hope, went right to the front and put up the fractions of :26.4, :56.1, 1:24.2 and 1:51 to go gate-to-wire. Tataria (Truman Gale) followed the leader all the way around the track. Little Santamonica looked vulnerable at the top of the stretch, when Tataria (second) came out of the pocket and charged at her. However, Little Santamonica was just too tough in the stretch coming home in :26.3. She won for the ninth time this season and post her 54th career victory. All Charged Up (John MacDonald) finished third.
Lems, who is second only to John MacDonald in driving wins, also scored a gate-to-wire win with Macs Black Hat ($4.80). Lems now has 56 wins on the season. MacDonald, who has 64 wins, matched him with a driving double on the night. MacDonald first led Coopers Beach ($3.20) to the winner's circle. His second win was with Fox Valley Photog ($2.70).
Racing resumes at Vernon Downson Thursday, with an eight-race card starting at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)