Vernon, N.Y. – J A T O ($3.70) picked up
right where he left off in his return to Vernon Downs, earning his seventh
victory in as many career starts over the Miracle Mile in Friday (September 9)
evening’s featured $9,900 Miracle Mile/Open Trot.
Chris Lems sent the 4-year-old Big Apple
Deli gelding right to the front, clearing Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) with
ease through a :27.4 first quarter before immediately pulling the tempo back. J
A T O’s stiffest challenge came on the far turn in the form when Pop I (Jay
Randall) charged from last to press a :28 third quarter, but J A T O had no
trouble parrying that challenge en route to a 1:54 victory over fast going.
Lucid Thoughts, 2-1/4 lengths in arrears, saved second from the pocket, while
Gimme the Cash (Claude Huckabone, III) made late gains to take third.
Howard Okusko trains 29-time winner J A
T O for Margaret and Amy Butler.
In the sub-featured $7,900 Miracle Mile
trotting event, My Lucky Word ($7.20) proved victorious, controlling all the
terms and edging clear for a 1:54.2 triumph over Walk the Floor (Angus
MacDonald) and Twice Too Nice (John MacDonald). Fern Paquet, Jr. drove the
4-year-old Lucky Chucky mare for owner Philip Hale and trainer Dave Dewhurst.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on
Saturday (September 10) evening, with the first of 13 races due off at 6:45
p.m. Eastern.
