Vernon, N.Y. -- Chris Lems availed 5-4 favorite Titus
Seelster ($4.50) a clear pocket trip off a fast pace in the featured $6,500
top-level Miracle Mile pacing event at Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 9)
evenign, making his winning move in the last eighth of a 1:49.4 mile.
The 5-year-old Artistic Fella gelding was the only one able
to keep up with the blistering pace set by Modern Gesture (Jimmy Whittemore),
drafting intently off splits of :25.1, :53.4, and 1:22.2. Just upon cornering
for home, Lems tipped Titus Seelster off the pegs, urging him to the fore in
mid-stretch and edging away by 1-1/4 lengths in the end. Runner-up Modern
Gesture was a farther 9-1/4 lengths clear of Fox Valley Cadet (John MacDonald),
who passed a tiring A Fool for Mark (Dustin Ingraham) for third.
Abreathofreshart (Dan Daley) was the tail-ender for the entire mile after
breaking at race's outset.
Jackie Rousse trains 16-time winner Titus Seelster for the
Kellogg Racing Stables, LLC.
John MacDonald padded his lead in the driver standings with
yet another hat trick, giving him 10 over the last three cards. MacDonald
teamed up with odds-on choices Ring Leda ($3.20, 1:53.3), Columbia Lion ($3.60,
1:57.2), and Aloneinspades ($3.70, 1:52.3).
The 50¢ Pick 5 returned $550.50, buoyed by 8-1 winner JD's
Brent N Sheree and 11-1 outsider Mr Wiskers both prevailing in the sequence.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 14)
evening, with the first of 10 races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
