by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
Saratoga shipper An Artist's Dream ($20.40) managed to
escape the pocket in the final 150 yards of Friday (October 31) evening's
featured $6,500 Four One One Pace for grey and roan horses at Vernon Downs,
scoring a 1:52.2 minor upset.
Settling into the pocket amid a three-way pace battle with
Ontario invader Zambuca Gass (John MacDonald) and top local mare Artic Byrd
(Truman Gale), An Artist's Dream tracked blistering early fractions of :26 and
:54.2. While close to the fast pace, the five-year-old Admirals Galley
gelding was boxed in on the far turn, as Artic Byrd commenced a first-over bid,
applying pressure on Zambuca Gass through three-quarters in 1:23 and in upper
stretch. With Artic Byrd flattening, Jimmy Whittemore was able to wedge
An Artist's Dream between rivals with 150 yards to go, taking the lead in deep
stretch to beat the favored Zambuca Gass by a widening 1-1/4 lengths. The
Grey Bullet (Joe Nassimos) made a late rally up the pegs to finish third off a
ground-saving trip.
Ray Sharpe owns and trains An Artist's Dream, now a six-time
winner.
The race was named for Four One One, a 12-year-old grey
pacer who was honored earlier in the card with a special retirement
ceremony. He and longtime trainer Wayne Hughes led the post parade for
the evening's featured race.
The 2014 season at Vernon Downs wraps up on Saturday
(November 1), with the first of 11 races scheduled for a special 6:00 p.m. EDT
post time.
