The 1-4 favourite after competing in the Caramore Pacing Series at The Meadowlands, Tell Us More scored a convincing win while making his Vernon Downs debut in the $8,000 Open II feature on Sunday afternoon.
Tell Us More (Roman Lopez) moved into the lead entering the first turn and ended up leading at every quarter-mile mark. The fractions were very solid :27 seconds for the quarter, :56.2 for the half, 1:24.3 for three-quarters, and a final time of 1:52. Gallic Warrior (Rick Plano) finished second after sitting third throughout the early stages. You Bet Your Glass (Frank Davis) made a nice first-over move entering the final turn, but ended up getting caught outside through the stretch and had to settle for third.
The complete order of finish was: Tell Us More, Gallic Warrior, You Bet Your Glass, Some Or Lis, Donnas Scape, Firethorn. Buckeye Baddler was a scratch (lame).
Tell Us More (Tell All-Liberated Leah) is owned by Michael Casalino Jr. of Freehold, New Jersey and trained by Jordan Hope.
In addition, the Sunday card at Vernon Downs featured a wild six-horse photo finish in the fifth race.
The photo ended up being won by Steuben Ruthless, sent off at 9-1 and driven by Rick Plano. R Blue Moon Rising was second and Team Edward finished third. There was a dead-heat for the fourth position between the favourite, Market Force, and Willies Big Mac. Dragons Breath finished off the photo in sixth.
The win was the second straight for Steuben Ruthless at Vernon Downs. The final time was 1:54.2, credited to each of the horses in the photo. Steuben Ruthless is owned by David Fisher of Vernon, New York, and trained by Mary Fisher.
Driver Jimmy Whittemore continues to close in on milestone win 1,000. He had two winners on the Sunday program at Vernon Downs to increase his career win total to 993. Whittemore won the second race with Party With Artie and the sixth race with I Do Hanover.
(With files from Vernon Downs)