Trainer Guy Howard refers to his veteran trotter Aruba Vacation as his “money machine,” and the steady-going gelding proved his worth once again with a solid 1:54 score in Friday night’s $10,000 Open feature at Vernon Downs.
Competing as the wagering favourite in Friday’s second session, Aruba Vacation went right to the top from the word “go” and proceeded to defeat the nearest of five formidable rivals by nearly two lengths, earning his second score in succession, his eighth win of 2013 (second at the Downs) and the 30th victory of his productive career.
The six-year-old son of Dream Vacation and Dixie Hit has banked more than $85,000 after 22 seasonal starts for the Howard Stables, raising his all-time winnings to $509,282.
“He’s like having my own personal ATM,” Howard joked.
Aruba Vacation’s driver, Dan Daley delivered a "triple" during Friday’s 12-race program, finishing first with the promising two-year-old colt trotter Odds On Amethyst (1:57.3) in the first race for the Odds On Racing Stable, and the five-year-old pacer A Major Haze (1:54) in the ninth event.
The Tanah Merah Farm’s trotter Glorious Winner secured his sixth score of Vernon’s 47-program meeting with a 1:55.1 victory for driver/trainer Roman Lopez in Friday’s $8,000 eighth event, and tied fellow diagonally-gaited rival Ulay Boko for most local tallies by an equine performer through Aug. 9.
Drivers Howard Okusko Jr., Chris Lems and owner Arthur S. Conte collected two victories during Friday’s program.
The Downs will conclude its “Corntastic Weekend” with a corn-eating contest during Saturday night’s 13-race program, which will begin at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a horse-themed colouring book giveaway for youngsters, while supplies last, during Saturday’s slate, which features a $10,000 Open Pace in race nine.
(Vernon Downs)