Natameri blows away field in Open Pace

Natameri (American Ideal) and harness racing driver John MacDonald captured the $9,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday (October 14) at Vernon Downs.

Natameri ($2.50) left from the 8-hole and settled into the pocket as Tomas (Artie Dick) raced to the first quarter first in :26.0.  Tomas used a :28.2 second quarter to be first to the half in :54.2.  Natameri made his move as he popped out of the pocket just before Tomas hit three-quarters first in 1:22.0.

As they made the turn for home Natameri took off like a rocket and made it a battle for second.  He stopped the clock in 1:50, winning in a romp by five and one-quarter lengths.  Greatest Ending (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) came up to get second.  Bluesville (Frank Affrunti) finished third.

Natameri is a 5-year-old horse owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by Jessica Okusko.  It was his sixth win this season.  He now has 20 career victories.

NATAMERI REPLAY

Affrunti gets a grand slam.

Frank Affrunti drove four winners on the card.  He got his wins with Mr French, Jericho Willie, Buzzer, and Muscle Dan.

Live racing returns on Friday (October 20) at 6:05 p.m.

For more information, click here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs