Emoticon Legacy dashes to $320,000 Zweig Memorial win

Emoticon Legacy (Louis Roy) outlasts Maryland (Dexter Dunn) to capture the $320,000 Dr Harry M Zweig Memorial Open Trot for sophomore harness racing trotters at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 3).

Meshuggah (Scott Zeron) was first to the quarter in :26.3.  Onajetplane (Andrew McCarthy) then took over the lead heading to the backstretch.  Emoticon Legacy ($3.30) then made his move first-up heading down the backside.  He surged to the front and led to the half in :55.1.

Maryland then made his move heading around the final turn.  He went from sixth to second in a flash.  Emoticon Legacy led to three-quarters in 1:24.1.

As they made the turn for home the race was on.  Second place finished Maryland confronted Emoticon Legacy.  Emoticon Legacy then found another gear and won in 1:51.4.  Meshuggah finished third.

EMOTICON LEGACY REPLAY

Emoticon Legacy is a 3-year-old colt by Walner.  He is owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais.  He is now three for three in 2025.  It was his seventh career victory.

Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) beats What A bid Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) in a thriller getting the win in the $135,000 Dr Harry M Zweig Memorial Fillies Trot.

Shes A Shoe In (Mark MacDonald) took the lead and led to the quarter in :26.2.  Torrisi ($24.20) took over the lead followed by Voguish (Todd McCarthy) going down the backstretch.  Torrisi was first to the half in :56.2.  Voguish then took a short lead but went on a break.  Torrisi was back in front heading to the final turn.  What a Bid Hanover came first-up heading around the final turn and reached three-quarters first in 1:25.2.

Second place finisher What A Bid Hanover and Torrisi traded blows all the way down the stretch. Torrisi dug in and used one late surge to win in a lifetime best of 1:54.0.  My Debt Collector (Tyler Buter) finished third.

TORRISI REPLAY

Torrisi is a 3-year-old filly by Walner.  She is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Caviart Farms, Pryde Stables, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman.  It was her first win of 2025.  She now has two career victories.

Vernon also hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman pacing fillies.

Odds On Enigma (Matt Kakaley) charges late to capture the $55,500 first division.

Miss Genie Mae (Tyler Buter) was first to the quarter in :28.0.  Savage Cindy (Jason Bartlett) then took over command and led to the half in :56.3 and was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

As they reached the stretch second place finisher Miss Genie Mae came first-up to challenge for the lead.  Odds On Enigma ($14,60) then came flying three-wide and went right on by winning in 1:54.2.  Savage Cindy had to settle for third.

Odds On Enigma is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville-Yellow Diamond.  She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Scott Di Domenico.  She is now one for one.

Odds On Monetary (Matt Kakaley) grabs the $56,500 second division.

Odds On Monetary ($20.40) was first to the quarter in :26.3.  She used a :30.1 second quarter as she led to the half in :56.4.  Onaorchardhunt (Mark Hershberger) was first to make a move heading around the final turn.  Odds On Monetary led to three-quarters in 1:26.2.

As they reached the stretch Odds On Monetary widened the lead and won easily in 1:55.1.  Party Pumps (Braxten Boyd) came on late to finish second.  American Cheese (Scott Zeron) finished third.

Odds On Monetary is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville-All On Top Hanover.  She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander.  She is now one for one.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 4) with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

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

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs