Vernon, N.Y. – William Ballard’s
Gimme the Cash ($3.40) held off all comers in Friday (November 4) evening’s
featured $6,700 trotting event at Vernon Downs, living up to odds-on billing.
The 5-year-old Cash Hall mare sprinted
to the fore early, clearing Count Speed (John MacDonald) with ease before
controlling the terms through :27.1, :56.3, and 1:25.2 sectionals. Upon
reaching head-stretch, Gimme the Cash responded to pressure from Count Speed up
the pegs, but was also faced with a threat from the late-emerging My Lucky Word
(Truman Gale) in the last yards. Ultimately, Gimme the Cash prevailed by a nose
over My Lucky Word in 1:54.3, while Count Speed was a gamely chasing third.
Angus MacDonald trains Gimme the Cash,
who took her 13th career win and her third in four tries. For driver
Chris Lems, the featured win kicked off a hat trick on the 13-race card only to
be outdone by John MacDonald, who led all drivers with four victories on the
night.
Saturday (November 5) evening’s closing
night program features the annual “Turn Back the Clock Rewind Race”, conducted
clockwise at seven-eighths of a mile, as the eighth of 12 dashes carded.
Horsemen and bettors alike should note a special 6:00 p.m. post time for the
closing night card, with fireworks to follow.
