My Little Dragon paced the fastest mile in the 55-year history of Vernon Downs on Friday when she won the $123,500 Artiscape in 1:49.4 for driver Brian Sears.
The five-year-old Dragon Again mare dropped into third for Sears and watched as Elusive Prey (Andy Miller) and Darlins Delight (Yannick Gingras) got away one-two at the :26.3 first quarter. Darlins Delight, who got the best of My Little Dragon in the Golden Girls on Hambo Day at the Big M, shot out of the pocket, but Sears had My Little Dragon following her move.
My Little Dragon had to go three-wide for a few strides down the backside, but she took over from Darlins Delight at the :55.4 half. Sears kept the Dragon alert in the third quarter as they paced through three-quarters in 1:23.2.
My Little Dragon - Artiscape
In the stretch, Darlins Delight took her shot, but it was not nearly enough as My Little Dragon held on by a length. Enhance The Night (Dave Miller) was third.
The 1:49.4 mile lowered Armbro Dancer's 1:50.1 track record set last year in the Artiscape.
Noel Daley trains My Little Dragon for the Adam Victor And Son Stble. The mare has won eight of her 19 starts this season and has collected purses of $581,438. Now a 22-time winner in her career, she has a bankroll of $2,113,803.