Little Santamonica (Chris Lems) takes the Fillie and Mares featured pace ($9,500) on Saturday night (July 22) at Vernon Downs.
The 9 year-old Little Steven mare, who is owned by Courtney Crawford and trained by Jordan Hope, went right to the front and put up the fractions of :26.4, :56.1, 124:2, 151.0 to go gate-to-wire. Tataria (Truman Gale) would follow the leader all the way around the track. Little Santamonica ($4.70) looked vulnerable at the top of the stretch, when Tataria (second) came out of the pocket and charged at him. Little Santamonica was just too tough in the stretch coming home in :26.3. She would win for the ninth time this season and post her 54th career victory. All Charged Up (John MacDonald) finished third.
Chris Lems who is second only to John Macdonald in driving wins, would also get a gate-to-wire win with Mac's Black Hat ($4.80). Lems now has 56 wins on the season. MacDonald, who has 64 wins, would match him with two wins on the night. Macdonald would first lead Coopers Beach ($3.20) to the winner's circle. His second win was with Fox Valley Photog ($2.70).
Vernon Downs returns to action on Thursday, with an eight race card starting at 6:45p.m.
For more information go to www.vernondowns.com
