A And Gs Winner captured the week’s $9,000 featured pace, while driver Jimmy Whittemore moved to the top of the dashes-won standings with a four victory outing during harness racing action at Vernon Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 8)
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A And Gs Winner earned his fourth triumph in five recent starts with a 1:53.4 showing in the week’s Open test for practitioners of the lateral gait, raising his win count at the meet to seven and tying fellow side-wheeler Bille Bella Chick for most local equine tallies after 52 programs. Saturday’s score was the eighth in 2009 for the still improving 6-year-old son of Astreos-Presidential Wall, who is now a career winner of $31,573.
Driver Brian Connor, sitting in for trainer Nicholas Gibides and owner Dorothy Gibides, completed his second double of the meet. The up-and-coming 27-year-old reinsman had won earlier in the program with Miss Lively Doodle, a 4-year-old mare trained by his father, Chuck, and owned by Patricia and Christopher Connor.
Whittemore’s wins came behind the pacers Wild West Grin (1:55.1), Artful Sky (1:54.4), Stettin Hanover (1:54.1) and Cannae Hammer (1:55.2), hiking his victory total for the three-night week to five, and giving him a 64-62 lead over Howard Okusko, Jr. in this year’s driving derby. It marked the talented 25-year-old horseman’s second four-bagger at the meet.
(Vernon Downs)