Vernon, N.Y. – Drivers John MacDonald
and Fern Paquet, Jr. each captured four of Saturday (October 22) evening’s ten
races at Vernon Downs, with MacDonald also copping top honors in the featured
$7,900 upper level pacing event with odds-on favorite Flying Cowboy ($3.50).
Despite chilly and rainy conditions,
Flying Cowboy wasted no time securing the early lead, clearing from his
assigned outside post to control early sectionals of :28.1 and :57.2. The
6-year-old Brandon’s Cowboy gelding faced his stiffest challenge on the far
turn—when Cheyenne Reider (Truman Gale) briefly headed him during a :27.1 third
quarter—but he responded beautifully under pressure. Flying Cowboy kicked away
to defeat Cheyenne Reider by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1, while Bondi Hanover
(Chris Lems) rallied mildly to take third.
Joe Skowyra trains Flying Cowboy for
owner Wade Wyatt.
While “The Prime Minister” took top
honors in the night’s feature, Paquet would help give trainer Jordan Hope a
double on the night, partnering with Hurrikane Bud K ($6.30, 1:54.1) and Flashy
Trick ($5.70, 1:53.3).
The penultimate week of racing at Vernon
Downs offers Friday (October 28) and Saturday (October 29) programs, with post
time each evening scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
