Vernon,
N.Y. – Heavy pressure into a blistering :25.4 first quarter could not deter
Sweet Thing ($7.00), as she fought to hold her ground on the first turn and
subsequently edged away to a 3-3/4 length win in Friday (September 30)
evening’s featured $7,900 top-level distaff trot at Vernon Downs.
Sweet
Thing and driver Fern Paquet, Jr. meant business from race’s outset, refusing
to yield to even-money favorite My Lucky Word (Chris Lems) through a cut-throat
duel into the first turn. The 4-year-old Chocolatier mare worked to protect
inside position despite being headed out the straight, in fact forcing My Lucky
Word into the pocket upon reaching the back of the course and controlling
middle sectionals of :55 and 1:24.4. A new challenger emerged coming off the
far turn, as Mc Tiny’s Hope (Ben McNeil) gained without cover to take second
from the fading My Lucky Word. Despite the presence of a fresh rival, Sweet Thing
steadily drew away, posting a 1:53.3 victory over Mc Tiny’s Hope, while the
late-rallying Painite (Truman Gale) took third as the 19-1 longest shot in the
race.
Trainer
Homer Hochstetler owns 9-time winner Sweet Thing in partnership with Robert
Buddig.
In
the sub-featured $6,700 trotting event, Walk the Floor ($6.80) circled from
third-over to prevail, fanning to the grandstand side off the far turn and
collaring the first-over Pegasus Point in the final yards of a 1:55.3 mile.
Trainer Angus MacDonald drove the 5-year-old Crazed gelding to his second
consecutive win.
Live
racing returns to Vernon Downs with an 11-race card on Saturday (October 1)
evening; post time is 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
