by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
While he employed vastly different tactics from his victory
last week, the result was the same for Oh No Three O ($4.60) in Friday (October
3) evening's $10,000 Open Trot at Vernon Downs.
The Paul Long-trained Ken Warkentin gelding floated forward
from post 6, accelerating clear of Aruba Vacation (Aaron Byron) through a
strong :27 first quarter before pulling the tempo back immediately. With
three-eighths to go, and Helios (Claude Huckabone, III) commencing a mild but
steady first-over gain, Oh No Three O accelerated clear to a three-length lead,
holding that margin through mid-stretch. In the final sixteenth, Helios
chased more stoutly, and Fern Paquet, Jr. kept Oh No Three O to task for a
1-3/4 length win, stopping the timer in 1:54. Pounce K (John MacDonald)
stayed on after tracking cover to hold third.
Oh No Three O's victory was his seventh on the season, and
the 16th for his career.
Chris Lems led all drivers with three wins on the 11-race
card, while Paquet scored a double on the evening.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (October 4),
with first post slated for 6:45 p.m.
