17-1 upset in $300,000 Zweig Memorial

Dame Good Time (Chapter Seven, Scott Zeron) rallied late to capture the $300,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial 3-year-old Open Trot at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 4).

Big harness racing favorite T C I (David Miller) went on a break before the start.  Dame Good Time ($36.60) went to the lead from his outside post and led to the quarter in :25.4.  Daquiri Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) then took control down the backstretch and led to the half in :55.4.  Amazing Catch (Dexter Dunn) came first-up to challenge going around the final turn.  Daquiri Hanover was first to three-quarters in 1:25.1.

As they made the turn for home Daquiri Hanover and Amazing Catch were slugging it out.  Dame Good Time then came three-wide as T C I made a late bid four wide.  Dame Good Time used a burst of speed to capture the 50th Zweig Memorial in 1:52.3.

Amazing Catch was second best.  Daquiri Hanover finished third.  T C I had an amazing recovery but had to settle for fourth.

DAME GOOD TIME REPLAY

Dame Good Time is a gelding.  He is owned by John Cummins and trained by Travis Alexander.  It was his third win this season.  He now has four career victories.

Date Night Hanover (Chapter Seven, Dexter Dunn) takes the $128,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial 3-year-old Fillies Trot.

Senorita Palema (Tim Tetrick) got the lead just before hitting the quarter first in :25.3.  Drawn Impression (Louis Roy) then took control heading to the backstretch and led to the half in :55.1.  Date Night Hanover ($18.00) made her move first-over heading to the final turn.  Drawn Impression had a short lead to three-quarters in 1:24.3.

As they reached the stretch Date Night Hanover surged to the lead as Drawn Impression tried to fight back.  Date Night Hanover won easily in a lifetime best of 1:51.4.  Senorita Palema came up to get second.  Drawn Impression had to settle for third.

DATE NIGHT HANOVER REPLAY

Date Night Hanover is a filly owned by Jeffrey Snyder and Onda Racing Stable while trained by Marcus Melander.  It was her first win this season.  She now has five career victories.

The Miracle Mile also played host for two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old colts & geldings.

Civilian Drone (Chapter Seven/Southwind Snow, Yannick Gingras) wins the $53,500 first division.

Moonshot S (Scott Zeron) led to the quarter in :27.3.  Gangsta Talk (Ake Svanstedt) then took over going around the first turn.  Civilian Drone ($6.70) made his move first-up going down the backstretch and was first to the half in :58.1 and first to three-quarters in 1:27.4.

As they reached the stretch second place finisher Gangsta Talk came all out after the leader but Civilian Drone was too storng and won in 1:55.2.  Moonshot S finished third.

CIVILIAN DRONE REPLAY

Civilian Drone is a 2-year-old.  Nancy Takter trained for owners Black Horse Racing, 3 Brothers Stables, Joe Sbrocco, and Order By Stable AB.  It was his first career win.

Super Chapter (Chapter Seven/Lifetime Pursuit, Dexter Dunn) goes gate-to-wire to take the $53,500 second division.

Super Chapter ($3.30) put up all the early fractions :27.3 to the quarter, :58.1 to the half, and was first to three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Second place finisher Happy Jack B (Tim Tetrick) gave everything he had but could only watch as Super Chapter got his first career win in a sparkling 1:54.2.  Variegated (Scott Zeron) finished third.

SUPER CHAPTER REPLAY

Super Chapter is a 2-year-old colt.  Marcus Melander trains for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 5) with 13 races starting at 4 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