Vernon Downs will once again play host to the Empires Breeders Classic for New York-sired three-year-old trotters on Friday (June 18).
The $205,000 EBC for colts and geldings will feature the much-anticipated rematch between Ahundreddollarbill (Andrew McCarthy) and Incommunicado (Yannick Gingras). The two last faced off against each other in a leg of the New York Sire Stakes held at Vernon Downs two weeks ago. They battled all the way down the long home stretch where, in the end, Ahundreddollarbill held off the late charge of Incommunicado to win in an eye-popping 1:52.2.
Tony Alagna trains Ahundreddollarbill, a Chapter Seven gelding who is a perfect two-for-two in 2021 and four-for-eight in his career. Incommunicado, a Chapter Seven gelding trained by Åke Svanstedt, is two-for-three this season, including a win in the Dexter Cup at Freehold. The gelding has six wins and has amassed almost $300,000 in his career.
The other top contender in the race is Ambassador Hanover, a Chapter Seven colt trained and driven by Svanstedt. He also won a NYSS leg a Vernon two weeks ago.
The EBC for fillies is broken into two divisions. In the $102,500 first division, Iteration (Brian Sears) looks to be the one to beat. The Chapter Seven filly is a full Sister to the great Gimpanzee. The six-time winner came charging late to snag a NYSS win at Vernon — her only start of the season to date — two weeks ago for trainer Marcus Melander. Her toughest rival looks to be Moni For Lindy (Wally Hennessey), a Credit Winner filly who upset in her NYSS leg at Vernon for trainer Domenico Cecere.
Darlene Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) is the morning line favourite in the $102,500 second division. The Chapter Seven filly came charging late, but fell short to Moni For Lindy in her only start this season, a NYSS event at Vernon. The Brett Bittle trainee has four lifetime wins and has amassed over $250,000 in total earnings. Her toughest competitor is Sweeping Rainbow (David Miller), who narrowly lost to Iteration her last time out in the NYSS at Vernon. The Chapter Seven filly, who is trained by Joe Holloway, has two career wins.
The 11-race card starts at 6:10 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)