by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Painite prevails from the
pocket in Vernon distaff trot
Vernon, N.Y. -- After tracking
prohibitive favorite Sweet Thing for all but the final two hundred yards, Donn
Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell's Painite ($13.00) scored a minor upset in
Saturday (May 30) evening's $8000 Mares Open II Trot at Vernon Downs.
The 6-year-old Plesac mare
secured the pocket behind Sweet Thing (Chris Lems) from race's outset, tracking
a sensible :56.1 first half mile before ceding second to the first-over
McKenzie's Star (Fern Paquet, Jr.). Painite stalked a :28.4 third-quarter
duel, ultimately making her move in mid-stretch after McKenzie's Star tired
from her two-wide press. Painite pounced late on the softened Sweet
Thing, edging clear by 1-1/2 lengths in a 1:55 score. McKenzie's Star
faded to third, and Leah's Ex (Jimmy Whittemore) rounded out the
scratch-reduced field of four.
Trainer Truman Gale handled the
driving duties aboard Painite.
The evening's final three
races--including a $10,000 Open Trot--were abandoned due to the Central New
York weather taking a sudden turn for the worse after the seventh race was
completed. Live racing returns on Sunday (May 31) afternoon, with post
time slated for 1:15 p.m.
