Four-year-old trotter Forty Gs extended his win streak to nine with a career-best performance at Vernon Downs on Friday, Aug. 8.
Last through the first half-mile, Forty Gs ($2.90) circled a field of six to win the featured $10,417 conditioned optional claiming trot in 1:54.2 for trainer, driver and co-owner Roman Lopez. The streaking favourite won three-quarters of a length as he defeated Lous Lancelot (John MacDonald), who had led through fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.1. Zapaca (Steeven Genois) finished third from the pocket.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Forty Gs boasts a near-perfect career record of a dozen wins from 13 starts, including seven this year and nine straight going back to last September. The son of Muscle Hill out of Sheer Glide is owned by Lopez and partners Mitchell Frair of Vernon, New York and Donna Duer of Bell, Florida.
Trained and driven by Ron Harp, Unusual Clarity won the $10,417 co-feature, a fillies and mares conditioned pace, defeating front-striding favourite Pearl Washing Tan (John MacDonald) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. The 10-year-old Betterthancheddar-Circle Game mare surpassed the $250,000 earnings mark with her 41st career victory for owner Nicholas Gibides of Syracuse, New York.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, Aug. 9 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)