Vowel For Vanna spells victory in Prospect Series Final

Vowel For Vanna (Resolve) pulled off a harness racing upset as she soared to an open-length victory in the Prospect Series Final for two-year-old trotting fillies on Friday (Oct. 11) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

The filly benefited from a pocket trip though the quarter in :30 and half in 1:00.2 before pulling out to attack for driver Bruce Richardson on the backstretch. The filly headed leader Talbot Ehbeesea (Samuel Fillion) just past three-quarters in 1:30.3 and quickly overwhelmed her tired rival. The second-over Sweet Swirl (David Boughton) had nothing extra, and Vowel For Vanna cruised five lengths clear to a 2:00.4 win at 6-1. Sweet Swirl finished second, followed by Ms Kirsi (Scott Coulter).

VOWEL FOR VANNA REPLAY

Vowel For Vanna, trained by John Holding, is now two-for-10 in her rookie season. She won one leg of the Prospect Series in four attempts after dropping from the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots and has now earned $15,540. Holding co-owns the filly with Morley Bosomworth of Elora.

Miss Danni Song (Big Jim) won the pacing filly Prospect Series Final for her third tally in five starts. She mobilized from third, under orders from Travis Henry, approaching three-quarters and swooped to the front, drawing away to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:57.4. Century Lunar (Fillion) was second best. Greystone Playgirl (Steve Hudon) completed the ticket.

MISS DANNI SONG REPLAY

Miss Danni Song is trained by Mary Ratchford for owners Ronald Ash of Desboro and Mike McLaughlin of Durham. The homebred has earned $17,210.

Five Star Lou (Dancin Lou) made it four wins from his past five starts as he captured the Prospect Series Final for freshman pacing colts and geldings. Henry sent him three-high coming down the backside, and the colt rolled to the front, coming home to win by a length-and-a-half in 1:58.1. Leave It To Lucan (Jason Ryan) closed for place with Winchester Phoenix (Austin Sorrie) four lengths further back in third.

FIVE STAR LOU REPLAY

The Shawn Steacy-trained Five Star Lou is four-for-eight lifetime with $22,250 in the bank. The colt is owned by Landmark 17 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, Dan Mogridge of Coldwater, and Esa Lahtinen of Cambridge.

Bank On Lucas (The Bank) stormed past four horses in the stretch, taking the Prospect Series Final for two-year-old male trotters in a 12-1 upset. At the pylons fifth approaching the final turn, Bank On Lucas got out on the bend and ignited in the stretch, surging in the final 1/16th of a mile and getting by Casual Guy (Lorne House) in the final strides to score by a quarter-length in 2:01.3. Massedonia (Henry) finished third.

BANK ON LUCAS REPLAY

The win was the first for Bank On Lucas since August. The Scott McEneny-trained gelding has won three of his nine starts and has earned $17,420. McEneny co-owns him with Martwest Racing and Cantucky Farm.

The four finals on Friday completed the 2024 Prospect Series.

Racing is set to continue at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Monday, Oct. 14 at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink