by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
JK Panache repeats in Open Pace; MacDonald wins five
VERNON, N.Y. -- JK Panache ($8.10) sustained a first-over
bid to wear down the odds-on Fireyourguns in Saturday (April 30) evening's
featured $8,500 Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, while driver John MacDonald
captured five of the evening's 13 races.
In the Open Pace, 1-5 favorite Fireyourguns (Claude
Huckabone, III) was stretched out by All Stienam (John MacDonald) through a
:25.3 first quarter while Chris Lems waited from well off the pace with JK
Panache. On the backstretch, JK Panache commenced a gradual first-over bid,
working to within a length of the lead through a :55.4 middle half.
Lems remarked, "At the head of the stretch, I was real
confident when he (JK Panache) swelled up alongside Fireyourguns, especially
after the fractions they went." After dueling briefly in mid-stretch, JK
Panache struck the front and drew off to a length victory in 1:49.2.
"I had to chase him, but once he got a head in front,
it was all him," Lems concluded. "He's a real good horse."
Fireyourguns was a game second, while Titus Seelster (Jimmy
Whittemore) negotiated traffic to save a best-of-the-rest third.
Trainer Dave Dewhurst co-owns JK Panache, now a 38-time
winner, with Philip Hale.
In the second round of the Anthony Farina late-closing
series for pacers, JDs Brent N Sheree ($2.10, 1:53.4) completed a sweep of the
preliminary legs, posting a 4-1/4 length win in his division in rein to
trainer-driver Truman Gale. No Shame Blue Chip ($2.70, 1:52.3) controlled the
terms in the other division, edging clear under Brian Connor for a 2-3/4 length
win after holding Long Legs Linguine (Fern Paquet, Jr.) at bay.
Defending Miracle Mile driving champion John MacDonald led
all drivers with five wins on the night, victorious with Stirling Electra
($2.90, 1:55.1), Fox Valley Cadet ($12.40, 1:52.3), Damon Blue Chip ($8.10,
1:52), Little Man Cam ($28.340, 1:53), and Van Gundy Hanover ($10.20, 1:54.1).
The 50¢ Pick 5 was not hit, resulting in a $405.29 carryover
to Friday's card. Post time on Friday (May 6) evening is slated for 6:45 p.m.
EDT.
