by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Barn Doll, Crazy Wow
dominate in Vernon EBC events
Vernon, N.Y. -- Both brushing
to the fore and opening up at will on their respective rivals, Barn Doll
($2.70) and Crazy Wow ($2.30, part of entry) proved dominant in a pair of
Empire Breeders Classic events for New York-sired 3-year-old trotters on Sunday
(June 21) afternoon at Vernon Downs.
The $248,275 Classic for
fillies saw Zanna Blu (Yannick Gingras) stride to the early lead past her
stablemate Allerage Belle (Jim Morrill, Jr.), with Barn Doll tracking that pair
comfortably through a :28 initial quarter. Moving off the clubhouse turn,
Jeff Gregory brushed to the fore with the 3-year-old Conway Hall filly,
clearing Zanna Blu with no trouble before controlling a :56.2 half mile.
Barn Doll accelerated on the far turn through a :27.3 third sectional, leaving
her eight rivals well in her wake after edging clear at head-stretch. She
ultimately trounced the others, winning by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1. Lock
Down Lindy (Tim Tetrick) rallied down the center of the track to take second,
while Jewels in Hock (John Cambell) kicked cover off the far turn to finish
third.
Trainer Steven Pratt co-owns Barn Doll with Nancy Pratt and
the Purple Haze Stables, LLC.
An overflow field of 11
3-year-old colts and geldings contested a $255,325 Classic event, with Crazy
Wow overcoming a second-row start to obliterate his competition--and the
previous track record for sophomore geldings. Yannick Gingras floated
Crazy Wow second-over to follow entrymate Habitat (Jim Morrill, Jr.) to a :26.4
first quarter, continuing on without cover to clear the lead upon exiting the
clubhouse turn. The Crazed gelding posted a :56.4 middle half and then
edged clear of his entrymate in upper stretch, amassing a 6-1/2 length margin
of victory in 1:51.1. Habitat held second, while Fashion Creditor (David
Miller) rallied from a third-over trip to take third while well detached of the
Ron Burke trainees.
The Our Horse Cents Stables,
the JT 45 group, and the J&T Silva Stables, LLC own Crazy Wow, who knocked
1-2/5 seconds off Gym Tan Laundry's 1:52.3 mark for 3-year-old trotting geldings,
taken in 2012.
Fireyourguns breaks his own
all-age pacing record
Earlier in the 14-race program,
Fireyourguns ($2.90) set blistering fractions and held sway from a
late-charging JK Panache (Yannick Gingras) to take the $10,000 Open Pace in a
track record 1:47.3. The 6-year-old American Ideal remains undefeated on
the year in six starts, taking two-fifths of a second off his former mark with
Jim Morrill, Jr. in the bike. Double millionaire Golden Receiver,
reunited with 2011 World Driving Championship runner-up Corey Callahan, was
all-out to chase the pacesetter, holding third.
Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.
Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.
NY Sire Stakes glamour boys
contest four undercard events
In addition to the pair of
Empire Breeders Classic events and Fireyourguns's track record mile, 3-year-old
pacing colts and geldings squared off in a quartet of New York Sire Stakes
events, offering a combined purse of $122,400. My Spirit Soars ($5.50,
Jim Morrill, Jr., 1:49.3), National Seelster ($8.60, Andy Miller, 1:50.2), A
Bettor Hat ($7.30, Morrill, 1:51.3), and Artistic Major ($8.50, Scott Zeron,
1:50.3) proved victorious in their respective races.
Live racing returns to Vernon
Downs on Friday (June 26) evening, with post time set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern
time.
