by Michael Chamberlain, Vernon Downs Publicity
Evil Urges (Cash Hall-Siren Hall) rode an aggressive move on
the far turn to victory in the $10,000 feature race at Vernon Downs on Friday
night. The gelding, driven by Jimmy Whittemore, was first-over moving past the
half-mile mark and moved alongside the leader, My Revenuer (John Macdonald), on
the turn. Evil Urges assumed the lead at the top of the stretch and was able to
withstand the charge of Jaipur (Fern Paquet Jr.), who had followed the live
cover provided by the winner in the mid-section of the race. Pollux Blue Chip
(Claude Huckabone III) split horses aggressively in the stretch to get up for
third. My Revenuer faded out to last after setting the pace for the majority of
the race. The fractional times were 27.4 for the quarter, 57.3 for the half, 1:26.1
for three-quarters, and a final time of 1:54.2
The complete order of finish was: Evil Urges, Jaipur, Pollux
Blue Chip, Mr. Web Page, Lucid Thoughts, and My Revenuer. Ilovemymommy was a
scratch (sick). Evil Urges is owned Homer Hochstetler of Crete, Illinois and
Robert Buddig of Hinsdale, Illinois. Hochstetler doubles as the trainer.
The sixth race of the evening also featured an interesting
development concerning the claim of Oaklea Tyson (Angus Hall-Bronx Bombshell).
There were nineteen different claims put in on the gelding at the claiming
price of $4,500. The winning claim was made by owner Tony Lioto of Syracuse,
New York and trainer Barry Dodge. In addition to the nineteen claims on Oaklea
Tyson, Majestic Lad (Majestic Victory-Bolero Crystal) was claimed out of the
sixth race by owner-trainer Mary Beth Fisher of Vernon, New York.
Live racing will resume on Saturday night with a 13-race
program that features three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for
2-year-old trotting colts. All of the Sire Stakes races will be covered in the
50-cent minimum Pick Four on Races 6-9. There are also interesting connections
on an entrant in the fifth race on the Saturday night program, part of the New
York Excelsior "A" Series. Elettrizzante is co-owned by Tom Durkin,
longtime voice of the New York Racing Association, and Joseph Spadaro of
Saratoga Springs, New York. Post time on Saturday night is 6:45pm.
