by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
A select field of five contested the $8,000 featured event
on the Friday (May 2) program at Vernon Downs, and despite having things
largely his own way, Pennsylvania shipper and odds-on favorite Sand Top Gun was
just collared by House Money ($6.80) in the last strides of the Miracle Mile 2
trot.
Trainer/driver Roman Lopez tracked from the pocket through
sensible fractions, keeping House Money just behind the pacesetting Sand Top
Gun (Tyler Raymer) throughout the first seven-eighths of a mile. Locked
in by the first-over Ilovemymommy (Chris Lems), House Money resorted to wedging
through at the pegs--and he found room in the last sixteenth. The
five-year-old Angus Hall gelding emerged with the lead in deep stretch, scoring
in 1:55.0 by 3/4 length. Sand Top Gun held second, while Mc Tiny's Hope
(Ben McNeil) saved ground for third.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, with a
10-race card featuring the finals of the Catherine Burton Trotting Series and
Anthony Farina Pacing Series kicking off at 5:10 p.m.
