Vernon, N.Y. -- Calvin B ($3.40) did not disappoint at
odds-on in Saturday (September 24) evening's featured $9,100 top-level Miracle
Mile pacing handicap at Vernon Downs, sustaining a first-over press to circle
the field for a 1:51.4 triumph.
Chris Lems settled the 6-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding
at the back of the quintet early before angling off the pegs with just less
than five-eighths of the mile remaining. Calvin B advanced the instant he was
switched first-over, working into a pressing role with three-eighths to go and
dueling down pacesetter Major War (Fern Paquet, Jr.) in mid-stretch. Calvin B
would accelerate clear while driven and evade a late charge from Modern Gesture
(Claude Huckabone, III), who worked around the tiring pacesetter to save second
off his pocket trip. No Monkeys Allowed (Truman Gale) mounted belated gains
from the back to take third.
Calvin B prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the end
for owner Dolores Smiel and trainer Heidi Rohr. His seventh seasonal win
increased his career tally to 21.
In the $5,000 C.K.G. Billings event for amateur drivers,
owner-trainer-driver Tony Ciuffetelli sprung a double-digit upset with Aventure
($23.60), rallying belatedly off live cover to narrowly collar 6-5 favorite
Rocket Master (Hannah Miller) in 1:57. The 5-year-old Muscle Mass gelding
earned the 15th win of his career.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday (September
29) evening; first post is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
