50th career win for Oh My Joepa

Oh My Joepa and harness racing driver John MacDonald captured win number 50 during the Vernon Downs featured pace ($6,000) on Saturday (August 4).

Oh My Joepa ($6.10) took the lead just before the first quarter and put down all the fractions (:27.2, :56.3, 1:24.3, 1:52.1).

Owned and trained by MacDonald, he got pressured in the stretch from Gypsy Leather (Claude Huckabone Jr.). Gypsy Leather looked prime to go by but Oh My Joepa dug down deep and as he has done in many of his victories, he gutted it out in deep stretch and finished first. Gypsy Leather settled for second money with Serious Major (Jimmy Whittemore) finishing third.

Oh My Joepa is a 10-year-old gelding by Rocknroll Hanover. It was his fourth win in a row and his fifth win this season.

MacDonald had two more winners on the night. He added wins with Wish Granted ($6.90) and Lucid Thoughts ($4.80).

Bloodstockshalltab (Jimmy Whittemore) charges late to capture featured trot ($6,000).

Bloodstockshalltab ($3.90) led to the first quarter in :27.2. Walk The Floor (Angus MacDonald) took over and hit the half first in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Walk The Floor seemed to have the race in hand but Bloodstockshalltab kept coming in the stretch and finally went by just before the wire, winning in 1:54.3. Walk The Floor settled for second with Sweet Ashley T (Homer Hochstetler) finishing third.

Bloodstockshalltab is an 8-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall. Owned by Diane WHittemore and trained by Jimmy Whittemore, he won for the sixth time this season and the 34th time in his career.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Thursday (August 9) with a post time of 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com

John Horne for Vernon Downs