by
James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
War
Hero scores in Vernon opening night feature
Howard
Gill’s homebred War Hero ($11.40) took advantage of a pocket trip, pouncing
late and drawing clear to a 1:55.2 victory in the featured $10,000 Open Trot on
Friday (April 17) evening’s Vernon Downs program.
The
seven-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding secured the pocket behind pacesetter Grey
Ice (Jimmy Whittemore) through a :28.2 opening quarter, drafting patiently
through the race’s intermediate stages. As Grey Ice accelerated on the
far turn, War Hero stayed right with him from the pocket, angling off the pegs
when first-over challenger Jaipur (Fern Paquet, Jr.) flattened at the apex of
the turn. The two pacesetters were on level terms past three-quarters in
1:26.4, but War Hero kicked clear in the final eighth of a mile, kept to task
through a 4-1/2 length triumph. Grey Ice was all-out to narrowly hold
second, while Ozymandias (Roman Lopez) rallied from the back of the pack to
take third. The favored A Penny Earned (Chris Lems) flattened amid his
late rally, only mustering fourth honors.
Howard
Okusko, Jr. handled the driving duties for trainer Jessica Okusko.
While
Okusko and defending Vernon Downs driving champion Chris Lems each recorded two
wins on the night, Jimmy Whittemore led all drivers with an opening-night hat
trick.
Live
racing resumes on Saturday (April 18), with the first of 12 races slated for a
6:45 p.m. EDT post time.
