Gritty win by II Sogno Dream mare

Vernon Downs played host to three $7,500 harness racing features on Friday (October 17).

Sweet Valley (Chris Long) grabs the featured trot.

Zapaca (Leon Bailey) controlled things early as he was first to the quarter in :28.0 and first to the half in :58.3.  Sweet Valley ($9.62) made her move first-up going to the far turn.  Zapaca led to three quarters in 1:27.2.

Sweet Valley took over in the stretch and won easily in 1:55.4.  Communion Money (Ron Harp) was second.  Low Inside (Dan Daley) finished third.

SWEET VALLEY REPLAY

Sweet Valley is a 4-year-old mare by II Sogno Dream.  He is owned by Karma Racing and trained by Rob Harmon.  It was her ninth win this season and her 14th career victory.

Pembroke Ali (Leon Bailey) gets sixth straight win in the featured fillies & mares’ pace.

Pembroke Ali ($5.74) was first to the quarter in :26.4.  Bell Of Lazarus (Tom Merton) came first-up and took a short lead to the half in :54.4.  Pembroke Ali reclaimed the lead and led to three quarters in 1:23.0.

Second place finisher Unusual Clarity (Ron Harp) and third place finisher Aint She Pretty (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) went all out after the lead, but Pembroke Ali held firm and won in a lifetime best of 1:52.1.

Pembroke Ali is a 7-year-old mare by Western Maverick.  She is trained by Joe Skowyra for owners JP and Collin Ryan.  It was her eighth win this season.  She now has 26 career victories.

PEMBROOKE ALI REPLAY

Gold Star Sven (Steeven Genois) charges late to win the featured pace.

Pl Octavious (Truman Gale) was first to the quarter in :27.2.  Son Of A Tiger N (Chris Long) led to the half in :56.0 and three quarters in 1:24.3.

Second place finisher Son Of A Tiger N and third place finisher Merrow (Leon Bailey) were slugging it out down the stretch.  Gold Star Sven ($18.64) came flying three-wide in deep stretch to win in 1:52.3.

Gold Star Sven is a 6-year-old gelding by Hypnotic Blue Chip.  He is owned by Kathryn Rea and trained by John Stubits.  It was his fifth win this season and his 15th career victory.

Leon Bailey drove five winners on the card.  He got his other wins with American Sunshine, Logo, Samsun Of A Beach, and Shailene Hanover.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (October 18) 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