Archangel stole the show in Friday night's Empire Breeders Classic elimination
races at Vernon Downs, establishing a 1:53.4 track record for 3-year-old colt
trotters.
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| Archangel establishes a new track record for 3-year-old colt trotters |
Jim Morrill, Jr. drove in the
$12,500 10th event, the second elimination for New York-bred male
members of the diagonal gait, as Archangel ($5.30) closed from fourth in the
final quarter (personally timed in :27 seconds) to defeat the breaking
Coraggioso by 1-1/2 lengths. The time
was a win mark for the black son of Credit Winner-Michelle's Angel, who earned
his third victory (plus a second-place finish) in four starts, and increased his
career bankroll to $172,670 for trainer Peter Arrigenna and his partners Alan C.
Hainsworth and Clare M. Semer.
Vernon's previous 1:54 record for
this age, sex and gait was set by Deweycheatumnhowe in 2008.
It was one of six wins on
Friday's 12-race program for Morrill, Jr., who also teamed six winners here on
May 25. He is currently tied with Tim
Tetrick for most driving wins on one program at the 16-card meeting.
The fastest filly flight went to
For A Dancer ($3.00), who delivered a career-best 1:54.3 performance in Friday's
$12,500 ninth race, which was just 2/5ths of a second off the track's female
mark, established by Personal Banner in 1996.
Jeff Gregory drove for trainer Joe Holloway and the Bluestone Farms. The bay daughter of Conway Hall-Fluttering
Winds remains undefeated after three season's starts.
Also qualifying for next Friday's
(June 8) $233,250 (est.) male EBC championship race here were War Cry Hall, the
first division winner in a life's best 1:55.2 with Morrill, Jr. steering for
trainer Ron Burke, and owners Joseph Di Scala, Jr., Cynthia Lynn Massari and the
Burke Racing Stable, as well as Flyhawk Jester, A Penny Earned, Trouble, Delano,
Coraggioso, Turbulent Flight and Southwind Austin. No Frosting will be the first also
eligible.
For A Dancer and Anandamide, who
captured the first distaff dash in a career-best 1:56.2 effort, with Morrill,
Jr. sitting in for trainer Anette Lorentzon and the Acl Stuteri Ab contingent,
will be joined in next Friday's $239,550 (est.) filly final by Lima Playmate,
Moonglow, Fortunista, Cowgirl Hall, Borrow And Spend, Latte Hall and Fancy, with
Vixy serving as the first also eligible.
Scorpion Moon dropped the fastest trotting
mile clocking of the meet down a full second with his sizzling 1:53 victory in
Friday's $9,500 seventh race, the week's Open contest. It marked the sixth win in 10 current outings
and the 85th lifetime score for the 11-year-old gelding, who is
shared in ownership by trainer Tracy Brainard and Andrew Herzog.
Brainard chalked up three
training tallies during Friday's program, while former Downs driving champ Brian
Sears secured a pair of first-place finishes.
DOWNS DOINGS—The trotters Come On Jerry
(2:00.2) and Whimzical Britt (2:00.3) each won their initial pari-mutuel races
during Friday's program… Saturday's 12-race card, which includes the week's
$9,500 Open pace (race nine) will begin at 6:55 p.m…Driver Michael Miller posted
his second provisional driving victory of the meet behind the trotter Pacific
Wave (1:58.4) in Friday's second event…Additional information regarding Vernon
Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.
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