So Amazing lives up to her name

So Amazing (So Surreal) and harness racing driver Frank Affrunti captured the $8,800 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs on Friday (July 29).

So Amazing ($13.60) went straight to the front but So Diva (Justin Huckabone) took the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :27.2.  He used a :30.1 second quarter to lead to the half in :57.3.  So Amazing popped the pocket as they headed to the final turn.  So Amazing had a short lead and led to three-quarters in 1:25.1.

As they made the turn for home, So Diva reclaimed the lead.  The two mares were shoulder to shoulder all the way down the stretch.  So Amazing used one last spurt to get the win in 1:53.4.  So Diva had to settle for second.  Dream On A Roll (Truman Gale) finished third.

So Amazing is a 4-year-old mare trained by George Ducharme for owners Nancy and Domenic Longobardi.  It was her first win this season.  She now owns 12 career victories.

SO AMAZING REPLAY

Justin Huckabone and Barton Dalious each had driving doubles.  Huckabone had his wins with I Pay Your Salary ($2.30), and Jericho Willie ($2.90).  Dalious won with Mittnage A Trois ($6.90), and Some Royalty ($10.20).

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (July 30) with a 10-race card starting at 6:05 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs