by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
Not only was Lady Clarabella ($5.90) the fastest among five
$10,000 Kindergarten Classic preliminary winners on Friday (October 17) evening
at Vernon Downs, but she also established a new track record for two-year-old
trotting fillies.
The daughter of Lear Jetta proved a handy winner in 1:54.2,
protecting the lead early from A List Lindy (Charlie Norris), and controlling
the terms through stout early fractions of :27.1 and :56.3. On the far
turn, she faced some pressure from Gold Cora (Mike Simons), who circled
three-wide en route to the far turn before challenging. Lady Clarabella
responded well, kicking clear by four in mid-stretch before she was taken in
hand by David Miller for a 2-1/2 length triumph. Sarcy (Marcus Miller)
rallied late to take second, while Gold Cora faded late.
Randy Beeckman trains Lady Clarabella for Paul Kinnear and
Dreamland Farms.
Lady Clarabella's 1:54.2 trotting mile was one-fifth of a
second faster than that of prior record holder Ma Chere Hall, who was the
evening's $10,000 Open Trot winner.
Now a four-year-old, Ma Chere Hall ($2.50) pushed clear of
Pounce K (John MacDonald) in a :26.3 first quarter, controlling the pace
throughout before edging clear to a 2-1/4 length win under David Miller. The
Jonas Czernyson trainee beat A Penny Earned (Chris Lems) and Helios (Claude
Huckabone, III) in a powerful 1:52.4 effort.
The other four Kindergarten Classic winners on the evening
were colts True Blue Stride ($14.00, John Campbell, 1:56.4) and Dapper Don
($47.00, Campbell, 1:56), while fillies Lindy Land ($18.40, Campbell, 1:56.1)
and Sweet Thing ($3.70, 1:55.3, Charlie Norris) proved victorious.
The top point-earners through the five preliminary legs of
the Kindergarten Classic series are eligible to the finals, to be held on
Saturday, November 1.
Live racing returns to Vernon on Saturday (October 18)
evening, with first post slated for 6:45 p.m. EDT.
