Southwind Wasabi and Dejarmbro each crafted track record performances during Thursday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs
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While turning in the second fastest trotting mile in the track’s 57-year history, Southwind Wasabi produced a 1:53 Downs standard for four-year-old mares on the diagonal gait with her solid two-length score in Vernon’s $25,000 leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older mare trotters.
The favourite Dejarmbro delivered a personal-best 1:55.3 victory in the opening division of Thursday’s $133,708 New York Sires Stake for two-year-old male trotters that chopped four-fifths of a second off the previous mark for freshman colt high-steppers, set by Blacktuxwhitesocks last season.
As the crowd’s fourth wagering choice, Southwind Wasabi paid $25.20 after collecting her third season’s score for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Howard Taylor and James Koran ownership contingent. Vernon’s leading driver Josh Marks did the teaming for trainer Ron Burke.
With Jeff Gregory steering for trainer Jessica Okusko and Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables, Dejarmbro converted a pocket trip into his third straight score and fourth tally in six lifetime starts. He paid $3.40.
Thursday’s other NYSS colt/gelding divisional winners were Im The Answer (1:56.4), Tigers Too Good (1:57.2) and the dead-heat first-place finishers Keenan and Neal (1:57.3).
Off The Grid, with Jim Morrill, Jr. teaming for owner-trainer Jody Weidman, earned a 1:57.4 speed mark and his fourth season’s score while posting the fastest divisional triumph in Thursday’s $39,500 NYSS late-closing contest for three-year-old male trotters.
The evening’s other late-closing flights went to Black Licorice (1:58.1) and Signal Hill Ginger (2:00).
(Vernon Downs)