Parkhill Horton ($17.00) used a quick turn of foot off the far turn to seize command from odds-on favourite Twice Too Nice in Friday (August 5) evening's featured $7,500 Miracle Mile Trot at Vernon Downs.
The eight-year-old Oaklea Julian gelding floated into third in the initial stages, enjoying a cozy tracking trip behind Twice Too Nice (John MacDonald) and My Lucky Word (Jimmy Whittemore) through splits of :28, :57.4, and 1:26.2. On approach to the head of the home straight, Claude Huckabone III angled Parkhill Horton off the pegs, and he quickly pushed clear of the pacesetting Twice Too Nice -- but he wasn't home free. My Lucky Word hooked three-wide out of the pocket at the eighth pole to give chase, but Parkhill Horton responded to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. My Lucky Word was a strongly chasing runner-up, while Twice Too Nice faded to third.
Trainer Robert Gale shares ownership of Parkhill Horton with Jeffrey Agan and David Adsit.
In the $4,000 "Dashtonian," a hybrid conditioned/starter allowance half-mile sprint for pacers, Bubba Zanetti vaulted to a clear lead through a :25.2 first quarter, but ultimately was collared in the final 40 yards by odds-on favourite Ring Leda ($3.30), who sustained a three-wide push off the far turn to prevail by three-quarters of a length. John MacDonald drove the six-year-old Bettors Delight gelding to a :54.3 victory for trainer Eric Felter.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (August 6) evening, with a pair of $55,500 New York Sire Stakes events for two-year-old pacing fillies featured on the 13-race card. The undefeated Planet Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven-Villa Hanover) seeks her fourth career win for trainer Linda Toscano in the evening's 10th event. First post is slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
(Vernon Downs)