Twenty-five New York-sired three-year-old trotters have committed to the Empire Breeders Classic events at Vernon Downs on Sunday, June 21, with 14 fillies contesting a pair of eliminations this Sunday, June 14.
Sunday's sixth and ninth races will determine the finalists for the $248,275 Empire Breeders Classic filly division, with seven entrants in each elimination. The fields, with nominated drivers, are as follows:
Race 6 - First Elimination
1. Jewels in Hock (John Campbell)
2. Spell That (Sam Schillaci)
3. Shaqline (Brett Miller)
4. Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory)
5. Allerage Belle (Yannick Gingras)
6. Lock Down Lindy (Tim Tetrick)
7. Northern Obsession (Greg Merton)
Race 9 - Second Elimination
1. Zanna Blu (Gingras)
1a. Frou Frou (Gingras also named)
2. Katniss (Daniel Dubé)
3. Lady Winona (Andy Miller)
4. Counsellor As (Brett Miller)
5. Stirling Debutant (driver TBA)
6. Concentration (Chris Lems)
The top four fillies from each elimination and one fifth-place finisher will contest the following week's final, with the connections of elimination winners granted their choices of post positions in the final.
Eleven three-year-old trotting colts and geldings entered for their $255,325 division, and all of them will advance straight to next week's final. They are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Apostles Creed
Crazshana
Crazy Wow
Fashion Creditor
Habitat
Maestro Blue Chip
Mythology Blue Chip
Royal Deceptor
Royal Lad
Wings Of Royalty
Workout Wonder
In addition to the Empire Breeders Classic finals on June 21, three-year-old pacing colts and geldings will contest a round of the New York Sire Stakes series.
This weekend, Vernon Downs hosts live racing on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:45 p.m. Saturday's program will feature the annual camel and ostrich races in between pari-mutuel events. The weekend concludes with the aforementioned Sunday card, beginning at 1:15 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)