Vernon, N.Y. -- Odds-on favorite All Charged Up ($3.70) took
full advantage of a pocket trip in Thursday (July 7) evening's featured $8,000
Mares Miracle Mile/Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, vaulting to the fore in
the final sixteenth to lead a John MacDonald driving grand slam.
MacDonald protected the pocket with the 5-year-old Ponder
mare, drafting behind Southern Girl (Chris Lems) through early splits of :27.1
and :55.3 before the pace heated up. With three-eighths to go, the first-over
Super Soph (Brett Derue) forced the hand of Southern Girl, and as they
accelerated through a :26.4 third quarter, All Charged Up hooked three-wide for
the stretch drive. While she had to work to achieve the lead in the last
sixteenth, All Charged Up not only wore down the battling pacesetters, but also
held off a late rally from Asset Management (Fern Paquet, Jr.), who mounted a
four-wide stand to take second. Super Soph checked in third after her uncovered
push was outdone in deep stretch.
For All Charged Up, the 1:51.2 victory equalled a lifetime
mark. Jan Gahagan and Peter de Rooy's J P Stables own All Charged Up, and
driver MacDonald also trains the now 17-time winner.
MacDonald's four driving wins led the Miracle Mile colony on
the 10-race card. In addition to his featured win with All Charged Up,
"The Prime Minister" also teamed up with Always Flash-n ($9.90,
1:53.2), Stirling Electra ($2.90, 1:54), and Jinxy's Delight ($5.00, 1:52).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs with a nine-race program
on Friday (July 8) evening, with post time slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
