by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
That'll Be the Rei takes Vernon
feature; Connor stable scores hat trick
Shipping in from Yonkers after
finding himself overmatched in a Levy Series preliminary, Harmon Racing's That'll
Be the Rei ($7.50) vaulted clear in the final yards of Saturday (April 18)
evening's $10,000 Open Pace at Vernon Downs, scoring a 1:50.2 triumph for his
second win of the year.
The five-year-old gelded son of
Cheyenne Rei tracked early pacesetters JK Panache (Chris Lems) and Hunchie
(Truman Gale) through a strong early pace, drafting a close third through a
:54.2 half mile. While 3-5 favorite Ashley's Husband (Fern Paquet, Jr.)
sustained a first-over bid on the far turn, That'll Be the Rei was never in
danger of traffic trouble, angled three-wide by Mike Merton in the final eighth
of a mile to pounce on the softened JK Panache. That'll Be the Rei struck
the front a sixteenth from home, driven clear to a three-length win.
Ashley's Husband was a game--but outkicked--second, and Hunchie saved third
with a mild bid after suffering traffic woes in upper stretch.
Rob Harmon trains That'll Be
the Rei, who scored his thirtieth career win.
Driver Chuck Connor, Jr. and
trainer Janice Connor teamed up for a Saturday night hat trick, proving
victorious was Mattjesty Bluechip ($8.40, 1:55.3), impressive first-time
starter Shadowmisty ($3.30, 1:56.2), and 86-1 longshot Candid Man ($175.50,
1:57.1).
Live racing returns at Vernon
Downs on Friday evening, April 24, with first post scheduled for 6:45 p.m. EDT.
