Dragon Fever leads John MacDonald grand slam at Vernon

by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media

John MacDonald was the star of the show at Vernon Downs on Saturday (October 25) evening, winning four of 13 races on the card--three of them with his own trainees.

He kicked off his driving grand slam in the featured second race, a $6,500 upper-level conditioned pace.  Dragon Fever ($7.60), a four-year-old Dragon Again gelding from the MacDonald stable, sprinted to the front from race's outset, set sensible fractions of :27.3 and :56.3, turning aside a bid from the pocket-sitting Barbarian (Fern Paquet, Jr.) on the far turn before kicking clear to a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:53.1.

In the fourth race, a $3,000 second-level conditioned pace, MacDonald pounced from the pocket in mid-stretch with Firethorn ($6.10), beating the pacesetting Donna's Scape in a 1:52.3 mile.  MacKenzie's Bliss ($16.20) gave MacDonald a training and driving hat trick in the eighth race, also kicking to the fore to take the $5,100 fifth-level conditioned pace in 1:53.1.

In the ninth race, a $4,000-$5,000 claiming handicap trot, MacDonald teamed up with the Arnold Marks-trained Windsun Galliano ($9.60), working clear through a :28.1 first quarter before rating a more conservative tempo on the backstretch.  After dismissing a first-over challenge from Funny Photo (Lems), Windsun Galliano drew clear in the stretch for a 1:57.1 triumph, ending up five lengths in front at the line when the pocket-sitting Nineanddivine (Claude Huckabone, III) broke stride in deep stretch.

Only three nights of racing remain in the 2014 season at Vernon Downs.  Closing week kicks off on Thursday (October 30) with a 10-race program, due to start at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

WESTERN PIONEER’S FIRST WIN COMES IN $43,000 NJ FUTURITY

By Carol Hodes for SBOANJ

FREEHOLD, NJ – October 25, 2014 – Western Pioneer, making his first start for new owners, overcame a judges’ inquiry to post his first career victory in the $43,000 New Jersey Futurity for two-year-old pacers, the ninth race on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Freehold Raceway.

Western Pioneer, a son of Western Ideal bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, paced the mile in 1:55.1, getting up in the final strides to catch Edward Teach [Rocknroll Hanover] for a three-quarters of a length victory, his first in 12 career starts.  Rock N’ Roll World [Rocknroll Hanover], the Green Acres champion, was third by four and a half lengths.

Dealt A Winner, the pre-race favorite, was scratched sick, leaving seven starters.

Western Pioneer, driven by Tim Tetrick and trained by Nancy Johansson, was purchased as a yearling at the Harrisburg Sale for $15,000 by Perry Soderberg of Highstown, NJ.  Ownership was transferred to 3 Brothers Stables of New York City and Johansson on October 17, 2014.

Sent off as the slight 2-1 favorite over Cheyenne Robin [Rocknroll Hanover], one of two fillies in the field, Western Pioneer [$6.20] made his move to the outside at the three-quarters as Edward Teach took the lead, prompting the judges’ review.

Western Pioneer has finished in-the-money in five of 12 starts for earnings of $72,274.

The New Jersey Futurity is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. 

Tomy Terror topples track record in Simpson

by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media

Tomy Terror ($2.70) took more than two seconds off the Vernon Downs track record for two-year-old pacing geldings with his 1:50.2 effort in the John Simpson Memorial on Friday (October 24) evening.

The son of Western Terror and Mib Hanover tracked entrymate Gold Coast Muscle (Mike Simons) through sizzling middle fractions of :54.1 and 1:22, pulling the pocket off the far turn and vaulting to the fore.  Chased home by Bet You (Brett Miller) and Hall of Terror (Mark MacDonald), Tomy Terror and Corey Callahan prevailed by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.2.

John Butenschoen trains Tomy Terror for owners William Wiswell, Jeah Goehlen, Eugene Schick, and the VIP Internet Stable.

Two other Butenschoen trainees were victorious in their Simpson divisions, both in divisions for freshman trotting colts and geldings.  Boots N Chains ($4.60, Callahan, 1:54.4) and Explosive Drama ($36.60, Simons, 1:56.1) rounded out the Butenschoen training hat trick.

Butenschoen's attempt to sweep the trio of male trotting divisions with Suit and Tie was thwarted by none other than Centurion ATM ($2.10).  After rated patiently by trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt off the top pair through a :56.4 half mile, the son of SJ's Caviar and Ens Tag Session began is move in the final three-eighths, taking over in upper stretch and holding off a late closing Sixteen Encores (Callahan) in 1:54.2.  Centurion ATM, the Peter Haughton Memorial winner, was well in hand approaching the post, winning by 1-1/4 lengths with much in reserve.

Rounding out the Simpson winners for the evening were trotting fillies Model Behavior ($44.60, Simons, 1:55.1) and Deli Royal ($32.00, Jimmy Whittemore, 1:57.2) who both proved upset winners, while the lone event for pacing fillies ended in a 1:52.1 dead heat between Deli Beach ($4.60, John Campbell) and Heart Major ($4.50, Joe Pavia, Jr.).

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (October 25), with the first of 13 races scheduled for 6:45 p.m. EDT.