by James
Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
Vernon, N.Y. --
Paul Kelley trainee Obrigado looks to defend his title in Friday (August 26)
evening's $193,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot at Vernon Downs, but he'll once
again have to contend with the likes of Resolve, Homicide Hunter, and Flanagan
Memory after squaring off against them throughout the season.
Obrigado (7-2
morning line second choice, post 7) has won 4 of 11 races this year, including
the Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah's Philadelphia, the Charlie Hill Memorial at
Scioto Downs, and the Cleveland Classic at Northfield. While doing his best
work on small tracks this season, his most impressive performance may well have
come over two turns in the Cashman Memorial at the Meadowlands earlier in the
month, where he escaped traffic on the far turn and stormed home in :26.4 in
pursuit of Resolve. Regular driver Mark MacDonald will once again pilot the
6-year-old Boy Band gelding for the partnership of the Paul Kelley Racing
Stable, the SRF Stable, Linwood Higgins, and Stable 45.
Elitloppet
runner-up and Cashman winner Resolve (5-2, post 6) looks to lead the charge to
upend the defending champion in the night's tenth event, having also won
the Arthur Cutler Memorial this season. Åke Svanstedt trains and drives the
5-year-old Muscle Hill entire. Flanagan Memory (9-2, post 8) also enters from
the Cashman, finishing a gathered-in third after seizing command through a bold
middle move. The 6-year-old Kadabra entire earned all four of his seasonal wins
in Preferred company at Mohawk. Brian Sears will take over the lines for
trainer Rene Dion.
While Obrigado,
Resolve, and Flanagan Memory have faced each other on multiple occasions this
year, a new shooter is quickly gathering momentum. Homicide Hunter (6-1, post
2)--representing Crawford Farms Racing--enters off a decisive 1:50.1 victory in
last week's Sebastian K Invitational at Pocono, brushing to the fore with a
circuit to go and edging away to a four-length score. David Miller handles the
driving duties of the 4-year-old Mr Cantab gelding for trainer Chris Oakes.
In the $170,000
Muscle Hill for distaff trotters (race 9), 21-time winner Hannelore
Hanover (5-2, post 7) looks to maintain her dominance after winning 12 of her
13 assignments this year. The 4-year-old daughter of Swan For All proved a
decisive and handy winner in her Miss Versatility preliminary at Tioga on
August 14, completing the mile in 1:52.4 over off going yet with much in
reserve. Yannick Gingras will remain aboard the Ron Burke trainee, who also
captured the Miami Valley Distaff and the Armbro Flight, as well as the Fresh
Yankee and Hambletonian Maturity over the 1-1/8-mile distance.
Among those aiming
to hand Hannelore Hanover her second defeat of the year are Jewels in Hock
(7-2, post 2, John Campbell), 2015 Empire Breeders Classic winner Barn Doll
(9-2, post 4, Jeff Gregory), and double millionaire Shake It Cerry (6-1, post
5, David Miller).
A pair of New York
Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings headline the
undercard, with the undefeated Serious Major and Funknwaffles due to square off
in the $55,500 eighth event.
