Odds-on favourite All Charged Up ($3.70) took full advantage of a pocket trip in Thursday evening's featured $8,000 Mares Miracle Mile/Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, vaulting to the fore in the final sixteenth to lead a John MacDonald driving grand slam.
MacDonald protected the pocket with the five-year-old Ponder mare, drafting behind Southern Girl (Chris Lems) through early splits of :27.1 and :55.3 before the pace heated up. With three-eighths to go, the first-over Super Soph (Brett Derue) forced the hand of Southern Girl, and as they accelerated through a :26.4 third quarter, All Charged Up hooked three-wide for the stretch drive. While she had to work to achieve the lead in the last sixteenth, All Charged Up not only wore down the battling pacesetters, but also held off a late rally from Asset Management (Fern Paquet, Jr.), who mounted a four-wide stand to take second. Super Soph checked in third after her uncovered push was outdone in deep stretch.
For All Charged Up, the 1:51.2 victory equalled a lifetime mark. Jan Gahagan and Peter de Rooy’s J P Stables own All Charged Up, and driver MacDonald also trains the now 17-time winner.
MacDonald's four driving wins led the Miracle Mile colony on the 10-race card. In addition to his featured win with All Charged Up, "The Prime Minister" also teamed up with Always Flashn ($9.90, 1:53.2), Stirling Electra ($2.90, 1:54) and Jinxys Delight ($5.00, 1:52).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs with a nine-race program on Friday evening, with post time slated for 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)