Unusual Clarity and Joe Nassimos came flying late to win the featured $6,000 conditioned pace for fillies and mares at Vernon Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 7).
Traffic Jam (Howard Parker) soared through a first quarter in :26.2, before drawing off to lead by two lengths at the :55 half and maintain control through three-quarters in 1:24.
Unusual Clarity ($9.70) was fifth at the half and found herself in fourth after three-quarters. It looked like Traffic Jam was going to cruise to an easy victory but Unusual Clarity found another gear and surged past Traffic Jam just before the finish to equal her lifetime best of 1:52.3. Traffic Jam had to settle for second, with Love Live Laugh (Jimmy Whittemore) finishing third.
Unusual Clarity is a four-year-old mare by Betterthancheddar owned by Nicholas Gibides and trained by Paul Minckler. It was her eighth win this season and the 13th of her career.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday (Aug. 8), featuring New York Sire stakes for sophomore trotting fillies. The 11-race card starts at 6:10 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)