Vernon, N.Y. -- Commencing his move upon exiting the far
turn, M & L of Delaware and Victoria Dickinson's Dude's the Man ($4.30)
worked to the fore in mid-stretch to capture the Memorial Day (May 30) feature
at Vernon Downs, a $10,000 Open/Preferred Pace.
A stakes contender at three, the 4-year-old American Ideal
entire kept well off the early pace, better than only the well-detached Damon
Blue Chip through splits of :26.1 and :54.2 dictated by JK Panache (Truman
Gale). As JK Panache left pocket rival Rock On Me (Dan Daley) behind on the far
turn, Chris Lems angled Dude's the Man off the pegs, gearing up off the far
turn into a :27 third quarter. Dude's the Man ultimately collared JK Panache in
mid-stretch, holding off a late bid from 21-1 outsider Memory Game (Jimmy
Whittemore) to prevail in 1:49.4 by three-quarters of a length. JK Panache
faded to third upon giving way.
Jessica Okusko trains Dude's the Man, now a six-time winner.
Lems led all drivers with four wins on the 12-race card.
The 50¢ Pick 5 sequence stymied the Monday punters, chiefly
on account of Western Toro's 16-1 upset in the eighth race. The carryover to
Thursday (June 2) evening's Pick 5 is $552.54. Post time for the first of nine
races on Thursday at the Miracle Mile is set for 6:45 Eastern.
