Heavy pressure into a blistering :25.4 first quarter could not deter Sweet Thing ($7.00), as she fought to hold her ground on the first turn and subsequently edged away to a three and three-quarter length win in Friday (September 30) evening’s featured $7,900 top-level distaff trot at Vernon Downs.
Sweet Thing and driver Fern Paquet Jr. meant business from race’s outset, refusing to yield to even-money favourite My Lucky Word (Chris Lems) through a cut-throat duel into the first turn. The four-year-old Chocolatier mare worked to protect inside position despite being headed out the straight, in fact forcing My Lucky Word into the pocket upon reaching the back of the course and controlling middle sectionals of :55 and 1:24.4. A new challenger emerged coming off the far turn, as Mc Tinys Hope (Ben McNeil) gained without cover to take second from the fading My Lucky Word. Despite the presence of a fresh rival, Sweet Thing steadily drew away, posting a 1:53.3 victory over Mc Tinys Hope, while the late-rallying Painite (Truman Gale) took third as the 19-1 longest shot in the race.
Trainer Homer Hochstetler owns nine-time winner Sweet Thing in partnership with Robert Buddig.
In the sub-featured $6,700 trotting event, Walk The Floor ($6.80) circled from third-over to prevail, fanning to the grandstand side off the far turn and collaring the first-over Pegasus Point in the final yards of a 1:55.3 mile. Trainer Angus MacDonald drove the five-year-old Crazed gelding to his second consecutive win.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs with an 11-race card on Saturday (October 1) evening; post time is 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
(Vernon Downs)