The very finest trotters
in the land will converge on Vernon Downs the evening of Friday, August 29 for
Grand Circuit racing. The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial drew full fields for
both colt and filly divisions and the Crawford Farms Free For All looks to be
the race of the season thus far for the veteran trotting set.
The Crawford Farms
offers a powerful field of ten to compete for a purse of $236,000. Current Top
Ten Poll leader and multiple world record setting trotter Sebastian K will
bring his impressive arsenal to Central New York for owners Knutsson Trotting
and trainer / driver Ake Svanstedt. He will find plenty of competition here
including 2013 Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, last year’s winner of this
race and the only horse to vanquish Sebastian K in North American thus far
Intimidate and the always formidable Market Share to name but a few.
The $340,000 Zweig
Memorial main event has landed both Father Patrick and Nuncio from the Jimmy
Takter stable. Father Patrick will seek to reestablish his position at the top
of the sophomore crop and Nuncio will be coming in on short rest, being entered
in a PASS event on Tuesday afternoon. There is also a $60,000 Zweig colt
consolation on the Friday card.
Takter will also bring
the likely favorite for the $150,000 Zweig companion filly race in Shake It
Cerry. Last year’s divisional champion has won seven of nine this season and is
over $1.1 million lifetime for owner Solveig’s Racing Partners. Local debutante
Avalicious, PASS invader Broadway Socks and NJSS champ Heaven’s Door will
provide ample resistance to the top choice.
The first leg of the 8th annual Tioga &
Vernon Downs Drivers’ Championship will be on the Friday program as well with
four overnight races dedicated to that competition. The Vernon Racing Under
Saddle series draws to a close with a $5,700 final and local driving legend,
the late Jack Bailey, will be memorialized with the feature preferred trot.
The hotly anticipated
Jimmy Marohn, Jr bobble-head giveaway and free T shirts will only add to the
festivities on this important occasion. Post time for the Friday evening
extravaganza will be 6:45pm. Visit the Vernon
Downs website for complete entry
information and further details on racing and promotions.
