Vernon, N.Y. -- Super Soph ($15.40) vaulted off cover in
upper stretch and sprinted off to a 1:52 victory in Friday (July 1) evening's
Mares $8,000 Miracle Mile/Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs.
Brett Derue took the 6-year-old Admirals Galley mare to last
of the quartet as All Charged Up (John MacDonald) controlled the terms through
splits of :26.3 and :56.3. On the far turn, Derue angled Super Soph second-over
to track live cover behind Southern Girl (Truman Gale) through a :27.2 third
quarter before fanning wide off the corner. Despite All Charged Up's best
efforts to stave off a second foe, Super Soph pushed clear in mid-stretch to
prevail by a widening 1-3/4 lengths. All Charged Up held second, while Southern
Girl faded to third. Love You Bye (Jimmy Whittemore) gapped the pocket off the
far turn, finishing last of the four.
Jackie Rousse trains Super Soph for owner Mark Wamp.
John MacDonald enjoyed a banner Canada Day in the States,
leading all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card. "The Prime
Minister" recorded a natural hat trick with a trio of favorites: Kesons
Silhouette ($3.20, 1:55.2) in the fourth, Capriccio Hanover ($4.30, 1:57.4) in
the fifth, and I Saw Red ($3.30, 1:55.4) in the sixth.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 2)
evening, with the first of nine races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
