Riggins recorded a 1:50.2 track record for four-year-old pacing horses, Hulas Z Tam turned in the fastest mile by a two-year-old pacing filly at the meet, Barks Like A Dog remained unbeaten in three New York Sires Stakes starts, and Greg Morton captured all three divisions of a New York late-closing event that he competed in during Saturday night’s 12-race program at Vernon Downs
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Facing eight rugged rivals in Saturday’s $12,000 seventh session, Riggins took control of the week’s Open handicap test passing the half, clocked in :56 seconds, and won, drawing away, by nearly five lengths to shatter the previous Vernon standard for his age, sex and gait by one and one-fifth seconds.
Jim Morrill, Jr. capped off a three-win performance as he guided the bay son of Art Major-Towners Image to his fourth season’s score for the Bulletproof Enterprises. Defending training champ Tracy Brainard conditions the career winner of $623,788, who missed his lifetime speed mark by one tick of the timer.
Hulas Z Tam (Bettors Delight-Tsunami Hanover) earned her maiden victory in a division of Saturday’s $177,435 New York Sires Stake for frosh pacing fillies. Newcomer Matt Kakaley drove for owner and trainer Pat Lachance as the determined distaffer closed from fourth in the stretch to win by a neck, and record the fastest mile by a two-year-old after 49 programs.
Barks Like A Dog secured her third straight NYSS score with a lifetime best 1:55.2 showing in the third race with Morrill, Jr. steering for trainer Ray Schnittker, who owns the bay daughter of Bettors Delight-Poodle Party along with Theodore Gewertz and Charles Iannazzo.
Saturday’s other NYSS divisional winners included Sand Song (Bettors Delight-Chipmunks Can Sing) in 1:54.3; Shaky Hanover (Bettors Delight-Shady Past) in 1:54.3, and Galimony (Artiscape-Ideal Gal) in 1:55.1.
Morton’s hat trick came in the first three flights of Saturday’s $51,000 New York late-closing contest for three-year-old filly pacers. He won with Luxury Cruise (Riverboat King-L Ps Seelster) in 1:56; Sinful Cindy (Art Major-Judy Is A Fox) in 1:54.4, and Smooth Finish (Bettors Delight-Miss Paper Wazoo) in 1:54.3.
Saturday’s other late-closing test went to Holiday Guide (Village Jove-Mood Indigo) in 1:54.2.
The Harness Racing Youth League held two exhibition races prior to Saturday’s pari-mutuel program. Chris Kaufman, assisted by Downs driver Chris Lems, won the first flight with the pony Imas Hit, while the second segment ended up in the first dead-heat in the HRYL’s history when Sabrina Field, assisted by driver Jimmy Whittemore behind the pony Jandi Tuff As Sky, and Jonathan Mays, assisted by Brian Connor behind Justaway, couldn’t be separated at the finish. Also competing in Vernon’s leg of the HRYL competition were Brittany Papa, Makayla Hyde, Katerie Marris and Kendall LaClair.
(Vernon Downs)