by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Barn Doll, Katniss take EBC
eliminations; JK Panache fastest of all in Open
Vernon, N.Y. -- Three-year-old
trotting fillies Barn Doll ($4.30) and Katniss ($8.50) employed similar tactics
toward victory in their $12,500 Empire Breeders Classic eliminations on Sunday
(June 14) afternoon, taking charge at the halfway stage and holding clear late
in decisive fashion.
In the first elimination (race
6), Jeff Gregory rated Barn Doll well off a :26.2 first quarter, moving the
Conway Hall filly out from fourth on the backstretch to slipstream Jewels in
Hock (John Campbell) on the backstretch before working clear after a :55.4
half. Barn Doll opened up at head-stretch, ultimately edging clear to a
2-1/2 length score in 1:52.1 over Jewels in Hock. Lock Down Lindy (Tim
Tetrick) rallied off stalled cover to take third, while Allerage Belle (Andy
Miller) faded to fourth.
Trainer Steven Pratt co-owns Barn Doll with Nancy Pratt and
the Purple Haze Stables, LLC.
The second elimination saw
Katniss secure the pocket behind Zanna Blu (Tetrick) through a :27 first
quarter before Daniel Dubé brushed the Credit Winner filly to the lead en route
to a :56.1 half mile. As Zanna Blu faded off the far turn, Katniss accelerated
clear, holding a two-length margin over a late-chasing Lady Winona (Andy
Miller) for a 1:53 triumph. Stirling Debutant (Gregory) rallied late to
be third, while Zanna Blu was a tired fourth.
Åke Svanstedt trains Katniss for owner Mario Mazza.
Of the two fifth-place
finishers, Counsellor As drew into next Sunday's (June 21) $248,275 final along
with the top four finishers from each elimination. The trotting fillies
will share the spotlight with the 11 colts and geldings who entered and advanced
automatically to their $255,325 final without requiring eliminations.
Earlier in the afternoon, JK
Panache ($8.40) made all the pace in the $10,000 Open Pace, holding clear of a
late rally from Hunchie (Tetrick) for a 1:49.2 win. Chris Lems drove the
6-year-old Art Major gelding for owners Philip Hale and David Dewhurst (the
latter handles the training duties). Odds-on favorite Golden Receiver was
left far back of the main body of the field after breaking stride at race's
outset.
Live racing returns to Vernon
Downs on Friday (June 19) evening, with first post at the Miracle Mile
scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
