Leon Bailey mapped out the winning trip for Card Knock Life, who took down top honours in the $6,500 featured pace Saturday evening at Vernon Downs.
Golden Gun (Josh Kinney) led the field through fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:24 while Card Knock Life ($33.40) followed in the pocket. Trained by Truman Gale for owners Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell, Card Knock Life popped out of the pocket and fired home for the victory in a seasonal best 1:51.4. Golden Gun held for second. Serious Major (Jimmy Whittemore) was third best.
Card Knock Life is an eight-year-old gelding by Western Ideal. It was win number three this season and career victory number 24.
Bailey had two more driving wins on the night. His other wins came with Automatic Art ($6.30) and Williams Wish ($10.60).
Sweet Ashley T (Homer Hochstetler) put up fractions of :26.4, :56.2 and 1:25.3 in the $6,500 co-feature on the Saturday card, but it was Kabu ($10.80) coming up with the winning effort.
Kabu was fourth at the three-quarter pole. Owned by the JP Stables and trained by MacDonald. He came flying down the stretch like his tail was on fire, winning in a career best time of 1:54.1. Bloodstockshall (Jimmy Whittemore) was second best with Southwind Cruze (Leon Bailey) getting third.
Kabu is a seven-year-old gelding by Valley Victor. It was his seventh win this season and the 28th victory of his career.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Monday with two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The 11-race card starts at 1:05 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)