Doctor
Butch and Just Bettor became the fastest local colt and gelding, respectively,
of 2012 during Saturday night's $171,464 New York Sire Stakes-sponsored
program for state-bred 2-year-old pacers at Vernon Downs.
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| Doctor Butch wins in 1:52 |
The colt
Doctor Butch equaled his 1:52 win record with a front-striding performance in
Saturday's sixth race, opening division of a $120,064 regular New York Sire
Stake, while Just Bettor established the season's swiftest mile by an altered
freshman with his bold-going 1:53.2 effort in the 11th event, fourth
and final division of the NYSS's Excelsior Series contest.
Jim
Morrill, Jr. did the teaming for noted trainer Linda Toscano in the first of
two standard NYSS segments, as the favorite Doctor Butch ($3.80) continued his
strong season's showing with a 3-1/4 length triumph over the John
Campbell-driven second wagering choice Hail The Taxi. It marked the seventh victory, coupled with
three second-place finishes, for the bay son of Art Major-Classical Yankee, who
has returned more than $210,000 in 10 starts to owner Ken Jacobs.
Just
Bettor ($12.60) had former Downs driving champion Brian Sears aboard as he rushed
into the lead from third at the half and continued on to a career-best
clocking, while improving his season's summary to 2-1-3 after eight outings for
the Angelo Frassetto, Kenneth Klein, Old Block Stable and Team S Racing Stable. The Bettor's Delight-Just Great offspring's
strong showing provided Vernon's leading trainer Tracy Brainard with a double
and her 58th victory of 2012 here.
Saturday's
$60,032 10th race, the second standard NYSS test, was won by Framed
Art in a career-fastest 1:52.3 mile. Hall-of-Fame
driver Campbell did the teaming as the bay son of Artiscape-Lo Gophobia rallied
from fifth at the half and closed from second in the stretch to secure a head
victory over the mile-cutting Bet The Moon.
The hard-charging effort improved the colt's performance line to 3-1-2
after eight appearances for owners Andrew Stafford, the trainer, and Arthur C.
Stafford.
Saturday's
other Excelsior Series winners were Bettorsluckystreak (Bettor's Delight-Cheeky
Hanover) in 1:56.2 with Morrill, Jr. driving for trainer Gary Messenger and his
ownership partners Kenneth Weckstein and Richard Rubin; Art Bettor Now
(Bettor's Delight-Patsy's Art) in 1:55.1 with Jeff Gregory teaming for trainer
Margaret Spagnola and owner Michael Polansky, and Clustercuss (Riverboat
King-Happy Doris) in 1:55.4 with Sears steering for trainer Mark Ford and owner
Robert O. Di Nozzi.
Saturday's
$11,000 Open pace was won by newcomer Transcending, who raced around Vernon's
7/8ths-mile oval in a very impressive 1:50.1 mile showing. Sears did the piloting for trainer Ron Burke
as the 8-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear-Apopka Dream secured his seventh
season's score and 31st lifetime triumph for the Lawrence Karr,
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables ownership contingent. The sizzling score raised the quick-footed
horse's lifetime winnings to $709,488.
Morrill,
Jr. and Sears each collected four sulky scores during the 13-race program,
while driver Chris Lems captured the first and last races on the card to earn
his 11th double of the 70th-program meeting. Morrill,
Jr.'s first-place finishes were in races 3-6.
DOWNS DOINGS—Just
Bettor's time was just two-fifths of a second off the all-time Vernon standard
for frosh pacing geldings that was set by Memory King in 2011…Doctor Butch's
clocking missed the freshman colt mark by one second. That mark was set by Schoolkids in
2008...Vernon will offer live racing at 6:55 p.m. Thursday-Saturday next
week…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing
and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.
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