by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
Rallying off cover as the pacesetters ruthlessly wore each
other down, Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell's Artic Byrd ($10.00) passed
every other mare in the race en route to a 1:53 victory over sloppy going in
Thursday (May 1) evening's $8,000 Fillies and Mares Miracle Mile 2-3 Handicap
Pace at Vernon Downs.
The six-year-old Art Major mare settled at the rear of the
field initially before advancing two-wide on the backstretch to join the front
flight prior to a :55 half mile. On the far turn, trainer-driver Truman
Gale moved third-over with Artic Byrd, while pacesetting favorite Market
Dynamics (Rick Plano) faced stiff pressure from the first-over Got the Munchies
(John MacDonald) approaching head-stretch. Aided by live cover from
Elleofnxample (Todd Frocione), Artic Byrd launched a four-wide stretch bid,
pulling clear at will for a 1-3/4 length victory. Elleofnxample stayed on
for second, while the pocket-sitting Steuben Ruthless (Fern Paquet, Jr.)
squeezed through at the pegs to save third.
Earlier in the program, Ben McNeil scored his first
pari-mutuel driving win aboard Want More ($5.30), edging out Sudden Desire in
1:55.4 in a conditioned event for distaff pacers.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (May 2)
evening, with the first of nine races slated for 6:45 p.m. EDT.
