Vernon, N.Y. -- Regina Dewhurst's Pounce K ($10.80) sprinted
clear and never looked back in the top-level $7,500 Miracle Mile Trot at Vernon
Downs on Friday (June 3) evening.
Chris Lems vaulted clear with the 6-year-old Donato Hanover
gelding through a :27.1 quarter mile, out-sprinting all five of his inside
rivals. He would go unchallenged through a comfortable :58 middle half,
sprinting clear off the far turn as the first-over Winding Hill (Jimmy
Whittemore) worked into second over Keystone Thomas (Robert Leslie), who gapped
the pocket off the far turn. Pounce K held clear of Winding Hill by 1-1/2
lengths in the end, completing the mile in 1:53.4 over fast going. Odds-on
favorite War Hero (Howard Okusko, Jr.) stalked Winding Hill's cover en route to
a third-place finish.
David Dewhurst trains Pounce K. For driver Lems, the
featured win was one of three on the nine-race program, with the other two
aboard Reve Royale ($3.80, 1:55.1) and Winbak Meadow ($5.30, 1:57).
Another nine-race card is on tap at the Miracle Mile on
Saturday (June 4). Post time is set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
