Vernon, NY - The rich finals of the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC)
a New York sired event for three-year-old trotters will be raced as a part of
the Father's Day card on Sunday, June 18 at Vernon Downs.
Ten fillies will compete in the first of the pair
of finals (race 8) for a purse of $228,250 with Barn Bella the
obvious choice despite the disadvantage of starting from the far outside post
nine. The Conway Hall lass has won ten straight races including the New York
Sires Stakes (NYSS) Final at two dating back to last August for owner - trainer
Floyd Pratt and partner Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables. Barn Bella has
handled older open trotters on two occasions and won the first NYSS of
the season while preparing for the EBC and beyond. Jeff Gregory
will drive.
The $252,000 EBC colt final is the ninth race and promises to be a
far more contentious affair. Devious Man (PP #5) is the defending NYSS champ
and is off to a great start on his sophomore campaign for the husband - wife
team of driver Andy and trainer Julie Miller. The son of Credit Winner has won
both 2017 starts including last week's EBC elimination in 1:53.4 after a
freshman campaign that saw him earn over $300,000 including a Grand Circuit win
at The Red Mile. He is owned by Stroy Inc. and the Andy Miller Stable.
Competition comes directly from the left as Bill's Man (Corey
Callahan) who took the other EBC elimination in 1:53 starts from post four.
He's a very well bred colt on the improve for trainer John Butenschoen and
owners William Wiswall and M & L of Delaware.
Lord Cromwell (PP #9) already has a Grand Circuit score on his
sophomore card with a convincing win in last month's Dexter Cup. He was
third in the Devious Man elim but has drawn poorly in the final for Hall of
Fame driver John Campbell and Eddie Hart who trains the homebred for
Carolyn Atherton.
Such An Angel was an impressive second to Bill's Man in his
elimination closing from well back for driver Mark MacDonald. He was the NYSS
division leader for much of the 2016 season and appears to be finding his best
form again for trainer Paul Kelley who conditions the Credit Winner colt for
Sam Caruso, Jr and Purple Haze Stables.
Swell Chap (PP #7) was the other second place finisher and has
matured nicely from age two to three for trainer Todd Rooney. His two most
recent starts are his best with a close second to the highly regarded colt
Enterprise in a sires stake preceding last week's finish. Tim Tetrick has been
enlisted for the drive on Sunday for owners Foge McKeever and Eldon Thompson.
The Empire Breeders Classic is funded in part by the Agriculture
and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and NY Harness Horse
Breeders along with Vernon & Tioga Downs.
The supporting card is largely comprised of the NYSS for sophomore
colt pacers which only increases the quality of the presentation.
Post time for the Sunday matinee is 1:05 p.m.
