Brian Green’s Yankee Manny became the initial four-time winning trotter of the season at Vernon Downs following his career-best 1:53 victory in the featured attraction during Wednesday afternoon’s special Independence Day matinee program.
With trainer Frank Davis at the controls in Wednesday’s $10,500 Open contest, favourite Yankee Manny ($4.80) drafted along in third for most of the sixth race, and then accelerated through the pylon path in the final sixteenth to defeat the fast-closing Spring Goal by a nose. The pacesetting Manningly was a length back in third.
Wednesday’s determined effort tied Yankee Manny with the pacer Miracle Freeluck as the 30-program meet’s only four-time winning equines through that point in the day. The Brett Tessler-owned trotter My Buddy Hall Lee then followed suit in the afternoon’s eighth event, while extending his current winning streak to a meet-longest four straight.
Yankee Manny’s triumph marked his sixth season’s score and his 25th lifetime win. The six-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Yankee Minuet now sports career earnings of nearly $143,500.
Drivers Rick Plano, Brian Connor and Frank Milby each registered a pair of first-place finishes during Wednesday’s 11-race card. At day’s end, Plano enjoyed a 49-46 advantage over Chris Lems in Vernon’s current dash-winning derby.
There will be no live racing at the Downs tomorrow night (July 5) due to a concert by “America” at the track. Thursday’s simulcasts will take place at the Vernon Downs hotel. Live racing will resume at 6:55 p.m. on Friday, July 6 and continue on Saturday, July 7. Starting July 11, Vernon will add Wednesday nights (first post 6:55 p.m.) to its live racing schedule.
(Vernon Downs)