Poker Play (Justin Huckabone) and Taken Control (Barton Dalious) grab the harness racing co-features at Vernon Downs on Friday (May 20).
Poker Play ($4.10) pounces late to win the Open 4 Trot.
Some Royalty (John MacDonald) went straight to the front and led to the quarter in :27.0.Ā Ā She used a :30 second quarter to be first to the half in :57.0.Ā Ā Poker Play made his move first-up as they headed around the final turn.Ā Ā Some Royalty led to three-quarters in 1:26.1.
As they made the turn for home Some Royalty was the one to beat but Poker Play came flying down the lane to win in a lifetime best of 1:55.3.Ā Ā Some Royalty had to settle for second.Ā Ā Give Angel Credit (Joe Nassimos) finished third.
Poker Play is a 5-year-old gelding by Yankee Glide.Ā Ā He is trained by Kerin Warner for owners Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell.Ā Ā It was win number four of 2022.Ā Ā He now owns 13 career victories.
POKER PLAY REPLAY
Taken Control ($4.20) fires late to win thriller in the Open 4 Fillies & Mares Pace.
Sweet Style (Adam Capizano) led to the first quarter in :26.4.Ā Ā The lead was gone as Tinker Taxi (Justin Huckabone) grabbed the control heading around the first turn and led to the half in :57.1.
Milleniums Girl (Josh Kinney) was the next one to take the lead as she blew right by down the backstretch.Ā Ā San Franny (Joe Nasimos) came first-over around the far turn and battled with Milleniums Girl around the final turn.Ā Ā San Franny was first to three-quarters in 1:26.0.
As they made the turn for home it was wide open.Ā Ā Lorrie Sue (Frank Affrunti) grabbed a short lead in the stretch, but Taken Control came out of the clouds and snuck by to win in a lifetime best of 1:54.2.Ā Ā Lorrie Sue had to settle for second with Milleniums Girl holding on to take third.
TAKEN CONTROL REPLAY
Taken Control is a 4-year-old mare by Control The Moment.Ā Ā She is owned by Paula Sarcone and trained by Jeff Sorenson.Ā Ā It was her third straight win of the season.Ā Ā She now has 10 career wins.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (May 21).Ā Ā Post time for is 6:05 p.m.
For complete race results, click here.
by John Horne, for Vernon Downs