Digging For Gold struck it rich for the second straight start at Vernon Downs as he won the $11,806 Open Pace on Monday, Sept. 7.
Bluesville (Ron Harp) was first to the opening quarter in :26.1, but Digging For Gold rushed up for Jimmy Whittemore to take over nearing a :54 half. Digging For Gold reached three-quarters in 1:21.4 with War Of Will (John MacDonald) on the march, and the leader resisted that foe down the stretch for a 1:50.4 victory. Primo Uomo (Jeff Gregory) closed for third.
Digging For Gold, a four-year-old gelding by Huntsville-Gold Orchid N, took his second straight Open win since returning from a six-week layoff on Aug. 29 and improved to three-for-11 this year. George Ducharme trains the gelding, a 15-time winner from 39 career outings, and shares ownership through George Ducharme Stable LLC with Jim Winske, David Winske and Dr. Megan Moschgat. The win payout was $2.56.
Cher Beaudin took her first driving win in the 11th race. She initially slid Oakwood Vegas Ir ($22.08) back to third, then swung him to the lead on the backstretch, and the eight-year-old Foreclosure N-Trend Setter gelding went on to a 1:55.1 score. Beaudin owns and trains Oakwood Vegas Ir, with whom the horsewoman has made all four of her driving starts. The resident of Monticello, N.Y., also a trainer with five wins in 68 starts, made her sulky debut on Aug. 6, 2025 and has a record of 1-1-1.
Leon Bailey had a driving grand slam on the 11-race card, getting wins with Unmatched Wisdom ($3.56), Hunt Me Down ($2.18), Major Steel ($4.54) and Gibby ($17.48). Chuck Connor Jr. and Gary Gibson had training doubles, and Jack McNeil drove two of his trainees to victory.
Live racing will return to Vernon Downs on Friday with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)