Diamond Stick Pin re-established himself as pacing King-of-the-Hill following
his narrow victory over newcomer Melvyn in Saturday night's $9,500 featured
ninth race at Vernon Downs.
Two-time defending Downs driving
champ Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Jessica Okusko in the week's
Open contest as Diamond Stick Pin ($5.70) drafted immediately behind the
pace-setting Poker Hat until the half, timed in :55.2.
After Melvyn came a callin' from
fifth to take the lead entering the final furlong, Diamond Stick Pin shook loose
from the pocket and closed like a gate in the wind to snare a nose triumph in
1:51.1, equaling his career-best win mark.
The fast-closing finish was his
third in Open competition at the 17-program meeting, his fourth in 11 current
outings and the 23rd all-time for the 6-year-old son of Bettor's
Delight-Silksndiamonds, who is shared in ownership by Wanda Polisseni's Purple
Haze Stables, Conrad Zurich and Edwin J. Gold.
The career winner of $438,933 hasn't finished worse than second in five
starts at the meet dating back to April 28.
Whittemore finished Saturday's
12-race card with three tallies, tying with Rick Plano, who also recorded a
triple, at 21 for second place on this season's dash-winning chart. Chris Lems, the current driving leader with
30 first-place credits, recorded a pair of Saturday scores.
DOWNS DOINGS—Defending champ Tracy
Brainard is again the meet's leading trainer with 22 tallies…Driver Dan Daley
recorded his 999th driving victory behind the trotter Alarming Quick
(1:58.3) in Saturday's third race…Miracle Freeluck, a three-time winner at the
meet, became the first pacing claim at the Downs this season after trainer Lonny
Hale plucked him out of the sixth race for $7,500. It was the largest of four claims at the
track thus far this season…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its
casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment