No Monkeys Allowed used a three-wide move and a deep stretch burst to score the victory in the Vernon Downs Saturday night feature.
Big Jer, with pilot Mike Merton, pressed for the lead early through a :25.4 opening quarter in the $8,000 Open II Pace. Before the half was complete, Fern Paquet Jr. and Golden Receiver rallied alongside to challenge for the top spot in :55. Big Jer was able to fight off a tiring Golden Receiver to the three-quarters in 1:22.3, but that’s when driver Greg Merton and the Edgar "Sparky" Clarke-trained No Monkeys Allowed used his wide move off a third over trip to chase down and wrangle Big Jer in 1:50.4.
The win was No Monkeys Allowed's second in a row at Vernon and his fourth win in his last six starts for owner Robert Orr. It was also the second of the night for trainer Edgar “Sparky” Clarke as his other trainee Gold Star Spike scored an earlier victory, which was likewise piloted by Greg Merton. The win was Merton’s fourth of the night.
Driver John MacDonald picked up two victories (Shock N Rock, Damon Blue Chip) on tonight’s card leaving him just three triumphs shy of 3,000 career wins. His next chance to join the 3,000 club will come when live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Wednesday (September 30) evening, with the first of 10 races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
(With files from Vernon Downs)