by James Witherite,
Tioga/Vernon Downs racing media
Bourbon Bay goes
back-to-back at Tioga
Nichols, NY -- Just a week off
his 1:52.1 track record outing, Bourbon Bay ($3.10) delivered yet another
scintillating performance, bottoming out his six rivals with a 1:52.2 triumph
in Saturday (May 9) evening's featured $14,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs.
The four-year-old Sand Vic
gelding wasted no time, establishing the early lead sharply and setting a
torrid pace--one he would sustain for much of the mile. After cutting a
pair of identical :27.2 quarter-miles, John Cummings, Jr. called upon Bourbon
Bay to accelerate up the backstretch, opening up seven lengths on Detroit
Rapper (Jim Meittinis) through three-quarter split of 1:21.3. While the
:26.4 third quarter proved more taxing on his six pursuers, Bourbon Bay eventually
tired in mid-stretch, trotting home in a :30.4 final quarter while still 7-3/4
lengths clear of his nearest rival. Wisenheimer (Tom Jackson) rallied
wide of tiring foes in the final stages to take second, while Detroit Rapper
tired to third after chasing throughout.
Bourbon Bay is under lease to
his driver, while Megan Wilson handles the training duties of the 15-time
winner.
Cummings scored a driving
triple on the night, prevailing as well with Island Charm ($19.20, 1:59.3) and
Hold On Tightly ($15.80, 1:56.4). Dan Clements recorded a hat trick as
well, victorious aboard Typical Newyorker ($11.20, 1:58.4), Oho Diamond ($2.70,
1:58.1), and Write That Down ($5.80, 1:55.1).
A Penny Earned caps Lems
grand slam at Vernon
Vernon, NY -- Driver Chris Lems
had the hot hand at Vernon Downs on Saturday (May 9) evening, with a victory
from A Penny Earned ($3.50) in the evening's $10,000 Open Trot headlining his
driving grand slam.
After earning decisive
open-length victories earlier in the evening with odds-on favorites High Rise
($2.40, 1:57.4), Silver Fox J ($3.80, 1:54.1), and Sweet Thing ($3.30, 1:55.3),
Lems secured the pocket with A Penny Earned in the featured finale, drafting
behind Lutetium (Jimmy Whittemore) through a sensibly measured pace of :27.4,
:57.4, and 1:26.2. In mid-stretch, Lems vacated the pocket with A Penny
Earned, pouncing in the final yards to prevail by a length in 1:54.1 over
Lutetium. War Hero (Howard Okusko, Jr.) tracked the top pair throughout,
staying on to hold third.
Trainer George Ducharme co-owns
A Penny Earned with Alfred Ross, Paul Fontaine, and Nicola Oliva.
Live racing returns to both
Tioga and Vernon Downs tomorrow (Sunday, May 10), with afternoon cards at both
locations. Vernon kicks off their 10-race Mother's Day program at 1:15
p.m., while the first of 12 races at Tioga is slated for a 1:30 p.m. departure.
