by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
VERNON, N.Y. -- JK Panache ($9.60) took full advantage of a
pocket trip on the far turn of Saturday (April 23) evening's $8,500 Open
Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, finding a seam up the pegs in the final eighth
and kicking clear to a 1:50.4 victory in the night's featured race.
Chris Lems vaulted clear with the 7-year-old Art Major
gelding at race's outset, setting demanding early splits of :26.2 and :54.2
before ceding command to 1-5 favorite Ashley's Husband (Fern Paquet, Jr.) on
approach to the far turn. As Ashley's Husband worked to stave off
pressure from an uncovered Titus Seelster (Jimmy Whittemore) off the far turn,
JK Panache was able to draft along behind their :27 third-quarter duel before
finding a seam up the inside in mid-stretch and bursting through. JK
Panache ultimately put 3-1/2 lengths on his competition, earning his 37th
career win and his fourth on the year. Ashley's Husband held second,
while Titus Seelster barely saved third from a late-rallying Ilikethemtrashy.
Trainer Dave Dewhurst shares ownership of JK Panache with
Philip Hale.
In the first round of the Anthony Farina late-closing series
for pacers, JDs Brent N Sheree ($2.40, Truman Gale, 1:53.3) and Galows
Nightmare ($7.60, Chris Lems, 1:53) proved dominant in their respective $4,000
first-round divisions.
Truman Gale and John MacDonald each drove three winners on
the 13-race card. Of note, Gale also recorded a training hat trick and an
owning double.
The evening's 50¢ Pick 5 paid $420.00, with mid-price
winners All Stienam ($11.60) and I'm a Pop Star ($14.00) heading the sequence.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (April 29)
evening, with post time slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
