Saylor sails to feature victory

Saylor (Claude Huckabone III) grabbed the featured $6,000 harness racing trot at Vernon Downs on Friday (July 30).

Spoiler Alert (Truman Gale) went straight to the front.  Saylor ($5.90) took over the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :29.2.  The two battled all around the first turn Saylor was finally able to clear as they reached the backstretch.  He used a :28.3 second quarter to get to the half first in :58.0.  The gelding led to three-quarters in 1:26.0.

As they made the turn for home Spoiler Alert popped out of the pocket and went all out.  Saylor found another gear and just flew down the stretch to win easily in 1:55.2.  Eternal Prince (Justin Huckabone) came up to finish second.  Spoiler Alert hung on for third.

SAYLOR REPLAY

Saylor is a 4-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven.  He is trained by Huckabone III for owners Go Where The Money Is Stable and James Crawford IV.  It was his fifth win this season.  He now has seven career victories.

The great team of driver Ben McNeil and trainer John McNeil III combined for two wins on the card.  They won with I’ve Got Hootspa ($18.00) and Damon Blue Chip ($33.00).  Chris Long drove two winners on the card.

Leon Bailey leads all drivers with 65 wins.  Justin Huckabone is second on the list with 32 victories. Chris Long is third with 27 trips to the winner’s circle.  Jimmy Whittemore and John MacDonald are tied for fourth with 21 wins each.

Jeff Sorenson leads all trainers with 17 wins.  Jessica Okusko and Bruce Lauer are tied for second with 14 wins a piece.  Justin Huckabone (13) and Gary Gibson (12) round out the top five.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (July 31) with a 10-race card.  Post time is 6:10 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs