I Love My Country is much the best

I Love My Country (Claude Huckabone III) captured the $6,000 featured harness racing trot at Vernon Downs on Friday (November 5).

As they made the turn for home it was all I Love My Country takingBet Big On Blue (Justin Huckabone) was first to the quarter in :27.3. I Love My Country ($4.00) made his move first-up down the backstretch as Bet Big On Blue led to the half in :57.4. I Love My Country took over heading to the final turn. He cruised to three-quarters in 1:27. the feature with ease in 1:56.2. Bet Big On Blue held for second as Bluffton (Chris Long) came up to get third.

I Love My Country is a 3-year-gelding by Credit Winner. He is owned by James Crawford IV and trained by Huckabone III, It was his fourth win this season and fifth career victory. Crawford IV and Huckabone III also combined to win with Miss Cleopatrick ($4.10).

I LOVE MY COUNTRY REPLAY

Vernon Downs says good bye to A Lister, Photo Master, Frisky Joe, and Love Live Laugh.

A Lister was the first of four horses retired on Friday. He is a 14-year-old gelding by Hard Rock N Roll. The trotter is owned by J Sansone Racing Stable and trained by Joe Sansone. He had 37 wins in 282 lifetime starts. He won nearly $350,000 in his career.

Photo Master is a 14-year-old gelding by S J’s Photo. He is owned by Jessie Ray and trained by Steven Ray. He finished second in his last start at Vernon tonight. He has 51 wins in 383 starts while taking in over $220,000 in career purses.

Frisky Joe is a 14-year-old gelding by Frisky Fighter. He ends his career with 45 wins in 299 starts. The crowd favorite has raced every season of his career at Vernon Downs. The gelding is owned by Morgan Carney and trained by Peter Carney. He won over $187,000 in his career.

Love Live Laugh is a 11-year-old mare by Hi Ho Silverheel’s. The pacer is owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Melissa Chadbourne. She pleasured fans as she won 52 times in 277 career starts. She is going spend her retirement at the Purple Haze Standardbred adoption center in Oxford, NY. She won nearly $300,000 in her career.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing for closing night of the 2021 season on Saturday (November 6) with a 10-race card starting at 6:10 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs