$193,400 Empire Breeders Classic won in mild upset

Vernon Downs played host to the Empires Breeders Classic (EBC) for sophomore harness racing trotters for both the boys as well as the fillies.  They also hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old pacing colts & geldings on Friday (June 14).

Situationship (Chapter Seven) and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt takes the $101,500 EBC first division for trotting colts & geldings.

Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett) went straight to the lead and led to the quarter in :26.3.  He used a :28.4 second quarter to be first to the half in :55.2.  He stayed in control and was first to three-quarters in 1:24.0

As they reached the stretch Situationship ($3.20) popped out of the pocket and blew right on by to win easily, equaling his lifetime best of 1:52.1.  Sir Pinocchio had to settle for second.  Thinker Monkey (Scott Zeron) finished third.

Situationship is a gelding trained by Svanstedt for owners Knutsson Trotting Inc., Little E LLC., and Tomas Andersson.  He is two for two in 2024.  He now has three career victories.

SITUATIONSHIP REPLAY

Wild Ticket (Chapter Seven) and driver Dexter Dunn notches victory in the $101,500 EBC second division for colts & geldings.

Wild Ticket ($6.00) went to the front and led to the quarter in :28.1.  Dame Good Time (Scott Zeron) took the lead going down the backstretch and was first to the half in :57.3.  He stayed in front going around the final turn and led to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

As they made the turn for home Wild Ticket came after Dame Good Time.  Dame Good Time dug in but then broke stride in deep stretch.  Wild Ticket took advantage and went on by to win in a lifetime best of 1:53.2.  Fly By (Jason Bartlett) was third and placed second.  Dame Good Time was second and placed third.

Wild Ticket is a 3-year-old colt trained by Marcus Melander for owners AMG Stable, K Kjellgren, and Mantorp LLC.  It was his second win this season.  He now has four career victories.

WILD TICKET REPLAY

Honey’s Sweet (Chapter Seven) and driver Yannick Gingras charged late to get a 5-1 mild upset win in the $193,400 EBC for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Date Night Hanover (Dexter Dunn) was first to the quarter in :27.2 and first to the half in :56.2.  R Melina (Tyler Buter) then took over the top spot heading to the final turn and led to three-quarters in 1:24.0.

As they reached the stretch Date Night Hanover came first-up to challenge as Senorita Palema (Ake Svanstedt) slipped through on the inside, Sadbirdstillsing (Jason Bartlett) came three-wide and Honey’s Sweet ($13.40) came four-wide like she was shot out of a cannon and won in a lifetime best of 1:52.0.  R Melina held on for second.  Sadbirdstillsing finished third.

Honey’s Sweet is a filly by Chapter Seven.  She is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Tony Alagna.  It was her second win this season she now has five career victories. She paid $13.40 to win.

HONEY’S SWEET REPLAY

Driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander combined to win both divisions of the NYSS with Howlenthehills (American Ideal) and Reggie The Fourth (Huntsville).  Both divisions raced for a purse of $59,200 each.

Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett) went to the lead in the first division and led to the quarter in :26.3.  Howlenthehills ($4.70) took the lead heading to the backstretch and was first to the half in :55.0 and then first to three-quarters in 1:22.3.

As they reached the stretch second place finisher Boston Rocks came all out after Howlenthehills but Howlenthehills was too strong and won in a lifetime best of 1:50.1.  Spring Blake (Yannick Gingras) finished third.

Howlenthehills is a gelding owned by Symmetry Stable LLC.  He is five for five as a 3-year-old after being winless as a 2-year-old.

HOWLENTHEHILLS REPLAY

In the second division Reggie The Fourth went to the front and led to the quarter in :27.1.  Ameritric (Brett Beckwith) took over heading down the backstretch and led to the half in :54.2 and led to three-quarters in 1:22.1.

As they reached the stretch Reggie The Fourth slipped through on the inside to take the lead but second place finisher Huntingforchrome came flying late.  Reggie The Fourth hung on to win by a nose in 1:51.1.  Vandiemen Bluechip (Dexter Dunn) finished third.

Reggie The Fourth is a gelding by Huntsville.  He is owned by Fiddler’s Creek Stables.  It was his fourth win of the season and of his career and he paid $6.10 to win.

REGGIE THE FOURTH REPLAY

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (June 15) with an 11-race card starting 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