Vernon, N.Y. -- While her previous Vernon Downs appearance
saw her give futile chase to Shutthefrontdoor, owner-trainer Jordan Hope's
Little Santamonica ($6.00) was the one who could not be caught in Thursday (May
12) evening's $8,500 Mares Open Pace at the Miracle Mile.
Frank Davis was patient early with the California-bred,
rating off dueling leaders Wanna Rock N Roll (Jimmy Whittemore) and All Charged
Up (John MacDonald) through a :26.3 first quarter before brushing clear on the
backstretch. After intermediate splits of :55.1 and 1:24.2, the 8-year-old
Little Steven mare edged clear of All Charged Up to a 2-1/2 length lead at the
eighth pole. While odds-on favorite All Charged Up made up part of that margin
in the stretch, Little Santamonica's :27.3 last quarter was enough to keep her
a length in front for a 1:52 score, the 42nd of her career. All Charged Up was
two lengths clear of Looney Dune (Fern Paquet, Jr.) for second.
Hope and Davis also teamed up in the opener with Regally
Blonde ($10.40), a 1:54.3 winner from the pocket in a $3,500 distaff pace.
Additionally, Jimmy Whittemore notched a driving double on the 9-race card.
The 50¢ Pick 5 was not hit, due in large part to a narrow
79-1 upset by Steuben Bentley (2:01.3, Claude Huckabone, III) in the evening's
sixth race, a $3,000 maiden trot. Friday (May 13) evening's Pick 5--starting in
the fifth race--will have a $712.43 carryover added to the pool.
Vernon Downs is full swing into a three-nights-weekly
schedule, racing on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with a 6:45 p.m. first
post.
