A bold middle move was enough for Pounce K ($19.00) to overpower odds-on favourite Count Speed in Saturday (August 8) evening's $8,000 Open II Trot at Vernon Downs.
Chris Lems settled the five-year-old Donato Hanover gelding just worse than mid-field in the initial stages, drafting well off a :28.1 first-quarter duel between Count Speed (John MacDonald) and Gaelic And Garlic (Frank Davis). On the backstretch, Pounce K made an aggressive move, vaulting clear of rivals en route to a clear lead on the approach to the far turn. Once Count Speed pulled the half back to :57.4, he struggled to fend off the charging Pounce K, who subsequently opened up the lead to three and a half lengths through a :27.3 third quarter. Pounce K would hold that margin intact to a 1:54.1 victory as Fleetwood Hall (Roman Lopez) and Frisky Joe (Claude Huckabone III) mounted mild late bids to round out the top three spots. Odds-on favourite Count Speed faded to finish sixth in the seven-horse event.
David Dewhurst trains Pounce K for owner Regina Dewhurst.
Lems and Jimmy Whittemore both recorded driving doubles on the nine-race card.
(Vernon Downs)