by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
With Restless Yankee and MacKenzie's Bliss tussling early,
Kelly Hope's Stonebridge Master ($5.10) had a fast pace to close into, looping
the field in the final quarter mile for a 1:51.2 triumph in the featured $8,000
Miracle Mile 2 Pace at Vernon Downs on Saturday (April 12) evening.
The eight-year-old Artsplace gelding was in no hurry early
on, sitting well off a pressured :26.4 first quarter, and even having a
12-length deficit at race's midpoint, where JK Panache (Truman Gale) pushed
past Restless Yankee (Chris Lems) to force a :55.2 half mile. Midway
around the far turn, Aaron Byron angled Stonebridge Master off the pegs, and
the Jordan Hope trainee's response was instant. Moving three-wide at the
top of the stretch, Stonebridge Master gobbled up ground at will, taking over
the lead in upper stretch, drawing clear to win by 3-1/4 lengths, and posting a
solid :26.3 last quarter en route. Unicorn Hanover (Shawn McDonough)
closed from far back to take second, while Moonlight Ransom (Jimmy Whittemore)
rallied from last to finish third.
Racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Friday, April 18, with
first post slated for 6:45 p.m. EDT.
