by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Damon Blue Chip upsets in top
pace; Anthony Farina series under way
Vernon, NY -- Commencing a
rally out of last with five-sixteenths of the mile to go, Damon Blue Chip
($44.00) stunned in Saturday (April 25) evening's $10,000 Open Pace at Vernon
Downs, passing every other horse in the race to just prevail.
The six-year-old Rocknroll
Hanover gelding came away last of the field of five, allowing odds-on favorite
Ashley's Husband (Fern Paquet, Jr.) to establish solid early sectional times of
:26.2 and :55. Before entering the far turn, Ashley's Husband felt strong
pressure from the first-over JK Panache (Chris Lems), and John MacDonald moved
Damon Blue Chip off the pegs from last as the top pair dueled through a :27.3
third quarter. Ultimately carried four-wide at the top of the stretch,
Damon Blue Chip was urged to gobble up ground through the stretch, prevailing
in the final yards over a game Ashley's Husband. JK Panache flattened at
the top of the stretch, narrowly holding third.
MacDonald, also the winning
trainer, co-owns Damon Blue Chip with the J P Stables.
The featured event was the
cornerstone of a driving grand slam for MacDonald, who also prevailed with
another trainee of his, Dragon Fever ($6.40, 1:52). The Green Knight
($6.90, 1:53.2) and Hot Lemonade ($4.70, 1:54.2) rounded out MacDonald's
quartet of driving wins on the evening's 13-race card.
The aforementioned Hot Lemonade
was one of two winners in the first round of the Anthony Farina Pacing Series,
pouncing from the pocket to defeat Sweet Bobbie (Chris Lems) in their
division. Lilys Real Boy ($7.10) took the other $4,000 split, carried
wide when circling to the fore early before kicking clear to a 6-1/4 length
1:53.2 victory with Fern Paquet, Jr. in the bike.
Live racing returns to Vernon
Downs on Friday evening, with first post scheduled for 6:45 p.m. EDT.
