Bluesville brought home the Vernon Downs Open Handicap Pace crown for the second week in a row as the gelding used a pocket trip to take the $11,972 feature on Saturday, July 25.
Rebellious (Jimmy Whittemore) charged to the front from his outside post seven and led to the quarter in :27.2 while trainer-driver Ron Harp took a two-hole seat with Bluesville. Natameri (Jacquavyian Carter) vacated the pylons at the half in :57.2 and came first-up to challenge the leader heading to three-quarters in 1:25. As they entered the stretch, Bluesville found an opening between horses and surged to a 2-1/2-length victory in a seasonal best of 1:52. Rebellious finished second over Fasnacht Hanover (Rene Goulet).
Bluesville, a seven-year-old son of Huntsville-Dontcrymetheblues, has won three races in a row at Vernon and is now four-for-11 this year. The gelding, owned by Big Sky Ranch, upped his career total to 29 wins from 113 starts. He paid $10.94 to win.
King Louie Lou (Frank Affrunti) won the Kenneth “Schultzie” Shultz Jr. Memorial Pace, paying $49.78 to win.
Bereaved Hanover (Chris Long) captured the Laura Rosenfeld D’Agostino Memorial Pace, returning $11.66.
Vernon Downs is set to host its next card on Thursday, July 30 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)