It was a record-setting Sunday at Vernon Downs as the New York oval hosted some of the sport’s brightest trotting stars in the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial events.
The richest affair on the card – the $350,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for three-year-old colts and geldings – saw this year’s Hambletonian winner, Market Share, establish a new track record of 1:52.1 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Linda Toscano.
Market Share, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite, got away in mid-pack while Beer Summit blasted to the lead and carved out an opening panel in :26.1. Coraggioso muscled his way to the lead in the backstretch and found himself on the hook for middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:25. Magic Tonight applied first-over pressure on the leader around the final turn, with Market Share tracking that foe’s cover while racing from second-over. Magic Tonight took the lead coming into the lane, but Market Share rallied past him in the late stages of the mile en route to posting the win. Magic Tonight was a determined runner-up, with Solvato rounding out the top three finishers.
“This colt is super every time he goes to the starting gate," said driver Tim Tetrick. "And he just seems to get better and better every time out."
The son of Revenue S-Classical Flirt improved his record to 6-3-2 from 13 starts this season after going 5-for-5 in his freshman campaign. Richard Gutnick, T L P Stable and William Augustine share ownership on the career winner of $1,273,306.
Check Me Out matched her own world record when she toured Vernon Downs’ oval in 1:51.3 en route to her win in the $150,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies. Tim Tetrick mapped out the winning trip for the Ray Schnittker pupil, who won for the second straight start after self-destructing and going home empty handed in this year’s Hambletonian Oaks at The Meadowlands earlier this month.
Tetrick tucked the talented daughter of Donato Hanover-Illusion Bi into the five-hole while Win Missy B motored to the top for Brian Sears and sliced out early splits of :25.4 and :55.2. Check Me Out commenced her first-over rally shortly past the mid-way point, and she was right beside Win Missy B at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3. Check Me Out drew clear of the field in the late going, with Win Missy B holding on bravely to grab the runner-up award. Third prize went to Cowgirl Hall.
“She’s the best horse I’ve ever been associated with,” said driver Tim Tetrick. “She’ll go as fast as you’ll want to go with her.”
Ray Schnittker of Middletown and Charles Iannazzo of Tappan, NY share ownership on the 22-time winner, who improved this year’s record to 8-1-0 from 10 trips to the track. The $75,000 payday boosted this year’s earnings to $740,658 while her lifetime total climbed to $1,639,001.
Gym Tan Laundry powered to a 1:52.3 victory for driver George Brennan and trainer Noel Daley in the $75,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial consolation for three-year-old colts and geldings, while Aunt Mel turned in a 1:54.1 score for driver Andy Miller and trainer Erv Miller in the $40,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig consolation for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Ron Pierce failed to capture a stakes victory on the card, but he did manage to take home the hardware in this year’s Vernon/Meadowlands Challenge. The Hall Of Fame horseman trailed Dave Palone 25-19 after the initial $25,000 Driving Championship leg at The Meadowland on Aug. 17, earned 30 points during the day after first-place finishes behind the pacers Shark Shooter, Joba Jovi and Stettin Hanover to out-point local favourite Jim Morrill, Jr., 49-41, in the hard-fought competition.
Sunday’s other Driving Championship race winners were former Downs driving champion Brian Sears (Whimzical Britt in race three, and Hot Cowboy in race nine), and Morrill, Jr. (Chilitodayhotamale in event five).
Following Pierce and Morrill in the final standings were Sears and Palone (38 points each), Yannick Gingras (34), Dave Miller (30), Tetrick (19), Brennan (13) and last year’s champ, Jody Jamieson (nine).
Sunday’s $11,000 Open Pace was won by the fast-striding Melvyn, who equaled his win-mark and bettered Vernon’s all-time standard for four-year-old geldings after a 1:49.4 performance in Race 12.
Brennan did the teaming for owner and trainer Rita Polese as the bay son of Mannart Howard-CR Charisma collected his fourth season’s score. The 12-time winner raised his career earnings to more than $212,000 with the win.
(With files from Vernon Downs)