by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
UF Bettors Hanover emerges from traffic in Vernon feature; Gale wins four
Vernon, N.Y. -- After saving
ground well behind a contested pace, UF Bettors Hanover ($6.10) found a seam in
the final 70 yards, surging to the fore late in Sunday (June 7) afternoon's
featured $7000 upper-level conditioned pace at Vernon Downs.
Jimmy Whittemore took the
5-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding off the pace initially, rating well off
dueling leaders Walks of Life (Claude Huckabone, III) and Lilys Real Boy (Fern
Paquet, Jr.) through a :54.3 initial half mile. While continuing just
worse than midfield the entire way around, UF Bettors Hanover found himself
hard pressed for racing room on the final turn, when A Fool For Mark (Dustin
Ingraham) circled three-wide off a stalled Lilys Real Boy and Card Knock Life
(Truman Gale) followed that live three-wide cover to head-stretch.
Blocked at the pegs in upper stretch, UF Bettors Hanover had no shortage of
pace, only able to use it in deep stretch when he found room to hook three-wide.
His sudden turn of foot propelled him to a half-length win, beating Walks of
Life in 1:51.4. A Fool For Mark sustained his three-wide bid to hold
third.
Trainer Scott West shares
ownership of UF Bettors Hanover with Katie Currie.
Truman Gale led all drivers on
the card with a grand slam, prevailing with Stettin Hanover ($20.20, 1:53.3),
Flight Again ($4.70, 1:52.4), Tundra ($35.80, 1:52.1), and Vintage Fenom
($11.60, 1:54.1).
Racing returns to Vernon Downs
on Friday (June 12) evening, with first post at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
