The New York State Fair races will make their annual appearance at Vernon Downs this weekend, as juvenile fillies are scheduled to race Friday evening. Three divisions each for trotters and pacers will head postward for Excelsior series dashes.
Race 1 is led by a pair of Conway Hall fillies: Thoughtfilly, from Brandon Simpson’s barn, and Trish, from the Ed Lohmeyer stable. Trish has a pair of Excelsior wins to her credit and will start from the outside Post 7 for owner Patty Hogan and driver Roman Lopez. Thoughtfilly broke her maiden for Jim Morrill at Batavia last week and he’s back aboard on Friday for owners Mystical Marker Farms, Hood, and the Simpsons.
The second trot division is Race 9, where Pazza is the early favourite from Post 8 for trainer/driver Gates Brunet. The Crazed filly has flashed speed despite some inconsistencies in her brief career thus far for her owners Joe Spadaro and the voice of NYRA, Tom Durkin.
Turn to Race 10 for the last of the trotting fillies and you’ll find a competitive group of seven. Slice Slice Baby is a modest choice in her very first start for trainer Erv Miller. The Conway Hall lass has but a pair of qualifiers to show, but will start from the rail for Charlie Norris. Paymaq Racing and Harvey Eisman own her.
The pacing fillies are in three short fields in Races 4, 5 and 6. Spreester is 9-5 on the morning line based on her penchant for winning. The American Ideal filly has won four of six and over $25,000 this year for owner Kimberly Zabielski and trainer Paul Zabielski. Frank Coppola Jr. is in for the drive.
Next up, Sweet Brown looks like the one to beat off her speedy past performance. She’s a Bettors Delight owned and trained by the team of Tyler and Amber Buter with Morrill scheduled to drive.
Barefoot Beauty is the choice in Race 6. Shes an Art Major filly who has paced in the 1:54 range her last couple of races. She is heading into the race after having faced Grand Circuit fillies in the Eternal Camnation Stakes last week at Mohawk Racetrack. Ron Waples is listed for trainer Gregg McNair and owner Jim Avritt.
First-race post time for Friday is 6:45 p.m. as Vernon kicks off State Fair Week.
(Vernon Downs)