Upfront Pattys Boy and Full Tank earned top honours in $10,000 divisions of the Kindergarten Classic trotting series, while Butterscotch Swirl moved back to the top of the Open ranks for diagonally gaited performers during Friday night’s 11-race program at Vernon Downs
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In the opening Kindergarten division for two-year-old male high-steppers, the favourite Upfront Pattys Boy ($3.30) took the lead following a :28 second opening quarter, and stayed in charge throughout the remainder of the 1:59.2 mile, recording a fresh speed mark and his second score in five lifetime starts. Bruce Clarke drove for trainer Mark Ford as the bold-going bay son of Windsongs Legacy-Ebba Hanover increased his freshman winnings to $23,132 for owner C. Ed Mullinax.
Full Tank, racing as the crowd’s choice in the frosh filly flight, also used front-striding tactics, churning out splits of :28.2, 1:00.3 and 1:31.1 en route to a 2:00 triumph for driver Jimmy Whittemore, trainer Bob Bencal and the Little E LLC stable. The slick striding bay daughter of Muscles Yankee-Arenal paid $2.60 to win after recording her maiden victory. She also sports a third-place finish in three lifetime starts.
Butterscotch Swirl, who last reigned as queen of Vernon’s Open trotting ranks back in mid-July, led from start to finish in Friday’s $9,000 sixth session, producing a 1:55.3 tally and his fifth season’s score. Competing as the third wagering selection, the six-year-old gelded-son of Credit Winner-Flavorofthemonth paid $10.80 to win after defeating the second pick, New Hampshire Boy, by half-a-length. Bill Bailey did the steering for trainer Dave Dewhurst and owners Regina Dewhurst (Dave’s wife) and Dominick Schillace.
Whittemore, the meet’s top dash-winning reinsman after 57 programs, chalked up three wins during the evening, while drivers Howard Okusko, Jr. Claude Huckabone, Jr. and trainer Lonny Hale were each credited with a pair of first-place finishes.
(Vernon Downs)