by Michael Chamberlain, Vernon
Downs Publicity
Long Island Tea picked up a
victory in the $8,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Saturday night. While
the favorite may have made it to the Winner's Circle, she did not have an easy
time of it at all. Naughty Not Nice led through the bulk of the mile for
driver-trainer Rick Plano and set fairly comfortable fractions of 27.1 for the
quarter, 56.2 for the half, and 1:24.2 for three-quarters. Long Island Tea sat
the pocket trip and was actually pinned in by Client Nine, who made a
first-over move on the turn. However, Client Nine's charge faded and when that
happened, Long Island Tea was guided out by driver Chris Lems and eventually
wore down Naughty Not Nice to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time
of 1:53.4. Long Island Tea is owned by Steve Stewart of Paris, Kentucky and
Kelley Racing Stable LLC of Gansevoort, New York. Paul Kelley is the trainer.
The complete order of finish for the featured fourth race was Long Island Tea,
Naughty Not Nice, Painite, Client Nine, Master Builder, Pegasus Point, and Mc
Tiny's Hope.
Long Island Tea was one of four
winners for driver Chris Lems on the Saturday program. He won the first race
with Ziegler Hanover, the fifth race with Lindys Real Deal, and the ninth race
with Suzies Little Vic in addition to the score with Long Island Tea. Ziegler
Hanover and Long Island Tea were sent off as race favorites, while Lindys Real
Deal won as a 4-1 second choice, and Suzies Little Vic was a nice value play at
7-1.
The draws for the Empire
Breeders' Classic Finals were also held on Saturday at Vernon Downs. The
winners of the eliminations from Friday were able to select their own post
positions for the Finals. In the three-year-old fillies Final, Avalicious will
be in post four as part of a Leigh Raymer-trained entry with Winning Pursuit.
Crediama won the other elimination and selected post two. The complete post
position draw from inside-out for the three-year-old fillies Final is
Glowngold, Crediama, Annies List, Avalicious, Beauty Of Gray, Driving Miss
Crazy, Winning Pursuit, Cut Up Hanover, and Slice Slice Baby. There are two
also-eligibles with Lady With Credit the first also-eligible and Maud Blue Chip
the second.
In the three-year-old colts
Final, Karets selected post position number three and Expressive Action will be
right alongside after picking post number four. The complete post position draw
for the three-year-old colts Final from inside-out is Daley Lovin, Hallenet,
Karets, Expressive Action, Cash For Gold, Cashamattic, Rocky De Vie, Wild And
Crazy Guy, and Crazzycrazzy. As in the fillies Final, there are two
also-eligibles. Mister B's Way is the first also-eligible and Elegante Attire
is the second. Mister B's Way suffered an unfortunate break right near the end
of his elimination and was disqualified from fourth to fifth, costing him an
automatic berth in the Final.
The Empire Breeders' Classic
Finals will be part of a special Sunday night program at Vernon Downs on June
8. First post that night will be 6:45pm
There will be also be a
nine-race Sunday program at Vernon Downs tomorrow. First post time will be
6:45pm as well.
