Vernon, N.Y. -- While the Vernon Downs winner's enclosure
has seemingly become the domain of driver John MacDonald of late (and he won
three of Friday (July 8) night's nine races), the "Prime Minister"
would have to cede top honors to Chris Lems for the evening.
The South Dakota native won four of the night's events,
beginning with a sweep of the early double aboard Total Freedom ($6.10, 1:58.3)
and Manattack ($2.20, 1:55.2). Lems and MacDonald shared victory in the sixth,
with Lems aboard favorite My Lucky Word ($3.60, 1:55.2) in the dead heat and
MacDonald aboard Pegasus Point ($8.20). Lems would complete his grand slam with
an outright win of the seventh aboard Lady Juno ($4.10, 1:59.1), teaming up
with trainer Jessica Okusko for the second time on the night after prevailing
with Manattack.
Explosive Man lunges up in feature
Lems's attempt at a fifth win on the night was cut short by
a break in stride from Pounce K at the outset of the featured $6,500 top-level
Miracle Mile trot, but the Hero Stables' Explosive Man ($5.20) was able to
prevail while jointly favored. Trainer-driver Bob Krivelin angled the
4-year-old Explosive Matter gelding second-over on the far turn, working to the
fore in the last yards off the cover of runner-up Parkhill Horton (Truman Gale)
for a 1:56 victory.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 9),
with the first of 10 races slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
