by Michael Chamberlain, Vernon Downs Publicity
Mr. Web Page (Roman Lopez) scored a surprise victory in the
$9,500 Friday feature race at Vernon Downs, posting a win as the longest shot
on the board at 15-1 in the field of six, paying $32.80. Mr. Web Page actually
sat the pocket trip behind the more-fancied Tirade Hanover (Tyler Raymer) for
the majority of the mile. Tirade Hanover led through the early fractions of
27.2 for the quarter, 57 seconds for the half, and 1:25.3 for three-quarters,
but he came up empty in the lane and faded to finish last of the six. Once the
field straightened away for home, Mr. Web Page ranged up on the outside of the
fading leader and stormed to the front, holding off a late charge from My
Revenuer (Rick Plano) and the race favorite, Evil Urges (Jimmy Whittemore). My
Revenuer, in fact, went from last at the top of the stretch to be second behind
the longshot winner and complete the exacta, which paid $119.50. Mr. Web Page
is owned by Helping Hands Stables of Woodburn, Indiana and is trained by the
driver, Roman Lopez. The complete order of finish for the Friday feature was
Mr. Web Page, My Revenuer, Evil Urges, A Penny Earned, War Hero, and Tirade
Hanover. The final time was 1:54.1
Even at 15-1, Mr. Web Page was not the biggest-priced winner
of the evening at Vernon Downs. That honor went to the winner of the 7th Race,
Pollux Blue Chip, who rallied from last in the field of nine at the
three-quarter mile mark to pass everyone in the stretch and win for
owner-trainer-driver Claude Huckabone III of Utica, New York. Pollux Blue Chip
was 29-1 and paid $60.50 for his victory. His winning time was 1:55.1.
Saturday will feature a special early post time at Vernon
Downs. The 10-race program will begin at 6pm, with special giveaways of $2 WIN
tickets on California Chrome and posters of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown
aspirant starting at 5pm, while supplies last.
