My True Delight saved her best for last to pull out a three-quarter length victory in Friday night’s $10,000 featured ninth event at Vernon Downs
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While Biggest Big Bertha was cutting out fast early fractions (:27.2, :56.1 and 1:23.1), My True Delight was rallying from fifth to fourth around the final turn. When the pace-setter began to tire in a :28.4 final split, the Claude Huckabone, III-driven mare closed like a shot (:27.1 final quarter) from third in the payoff patch and stopped the timer in a career-best 1:51.4 to capture the week’s Miracle Mile-1 contest for female pacers.
Friday’s first-place finish was the second this season and the 23rd lifetime for the bay daughter of Bettors Delight-My True Art, who is trained by Tim Lanpher and owned by his wife, Judith. As the fifth wagering choice in the field of six, the career-winner of $231,823 returned $21.80, $9.60 and $3.90 across the board.
Vernon’s defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore won three of Friday’s 10 races, while veteran Chuck Connor, Jr. also teamed a trio of first-place finishers.
Vernon will offer "Breakfast With The Pros" in its clubhouse starting at 11 a.m. tomorrow. A breakfast buffet will be served. Three exhibition races by member of the Harness Horse Youth League (the first starting at 5:30 p.m.) will precede Saturday night’s 11-race live pari-mutuel program that is scheduled to begin at 6:55 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)