Coraggioso Returns a Winner

NYSS Champion Coraggioso wins in his 2013 debut

Reigning New York Sires Stakes champion Coraggioso was fast and fit in his season's debut on Friday night, capturing the $10,000 Vernon Downs featured eighth race and setting a track record for 4-year-old trotting horses.

Trainer Gates Brunet was at the controls in the week's Open test as favored Coraggioso, winner of the NYSS 2012 title test for 3-year-old colt trotters, got cover early in Friday's mile contest.  The quick-striding son of Conway Hall-Electra Hanover rallied from third in the final quarter (authoring a :28.3 final fraction) to defeat the front-striding A Penny Earned by a head in a career-best 1:53.4, lowering the track's former standard for his class (set by Winning Mister in 2010) by one tick of the timer, and establishing a season's fastest trotting mark at the central New York 7/8ths-mile oval.

Friday's fantastic performance earned the career-winner of more than $511,400 his 12^th lifetime victory for owners Joseph Spadaro and Tom J. Durkin, the famed announcer for the New York Racing Association.

Friday's fastest mile was a 1:52.3 victory by the pacer Windows Online, who became a two-time winner at the seven-night meet with a bold-going effort in the evening's seventh session.  It was one of three tallies during the 12-race program for defending driving champ and current leader Rick Plano.  He also finished first with Ulay Boko (1:55.2) in the sixth session and To Tell The Truth (1:53) in race 10.  His wife, Maryann, owns the latter two Standardbreds.

Driver John MacDonald was also a multiple winner during Friday's format, posting a pair of first-place finishes.

DOWNS DOINGS—Vernon will offer simulcast wagering on Saturday's Kentucky Derby, which is slated to start at 6:24 p.m….The Downs will begin its live racing at 5:10 p.m., offering three events before the famed "Run For The Roses," and 10 additional races after it…The $15,200 Anthony J. Farina Memorial Pacing Series final (race nine) and the $14,600 Catherine Burton Memorial Trotting Series championship clash (race seven) will serve as Saturday co-features...Thursday night racing (first post 6:45) will return to the Downs starting May 9…Vernon's 90-card campaign continues through November 2…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

To Beach His Own sparkles in Farina Series

To Beach His Own sparkles in 1:50.4

To Beach His Own re-set the Vernon Downs current speed standard to 1:50.4 with his dominating victory in Saturday night's 10^th race as driver/trainer Ray Schnittker completed a second-leg sweep of the new Anthony J. Farina Memorial Pacing Series.

Schnittker, who captured the opening Farina flight with Red Rock in race one, roared back in the final elimination round with To Beach His Own to not only pin a fresh win mark on the fleet-footed youngster, but also come within 3/5ths-of-a-second of the track's record for 3-year-old gelding pacers.

The sizzling score was the first win in six current outings and the second lifetime tally for the bay son of Rocknroll Hanover-Beachy Lady, who is shared in ownership by Schnittker, Theodore Gewertz, Dean Davis and Steven Arnold.

Schnittker, who has recorded three doubles at the six night meet, is also a partner, with Dr. John M. Egloff, in Red Rock, who secured a 1:52.2 win-mark and his third triumph in four season's outings.  Two of the sophomore gelding's tallies have come in the Farina series.

Earlier in Saturday's 13-race program, the pacers Ourea Nourrir and Western Trademark had each lowered the track's current speed standard to 1:51.4 with their respective scores in races six and nine.

Veteran trainer Tracy Brainard harnessed three Saturday winners, the trotter Tioga Thunder (1:56.3), as well as the pacers Ourea Nourrir and Our Ella (1:55.1).

In addition to Schnittker, Saturday doubles were secured by drivers Brian Connor, John MacDonald and trainer Lonny Hale.      

DOWNS DOINGS—The Farina series championship race will be conducted, as will the final of the Catherine Burton Memorial Trotting Series, during next Saturday's Vernon program, which is slated to begin with a special 5:10 p.m. Kentucky Derby day post time…Red Rock and fellow pacers Ideally Magic and Bullish Blue Chip each became two-time winners at the meet on Saturday. ..After six racing programs, Rick Plano leads in driving victories with 14, while Brainard and Roman Lopez are tied in training tallies with eight apiece…The Downs will continue Friday and Saturday evening racing through May 4.  Thursday nights will be added starting May 9…Vernon's 90-card campaign continues through November 2…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

The Evictor Highlights Driving Double for Marcus Miller on Friday Night

The Evictor made fast work of seven high-stepping Open rivals, while Hold On Tightly became the first three-time winner of the season at Vernon Downs on Friday night (April 26).

The Evictor (Marcus Miller) wins Friday's Open Trot

With Marcus Miller doing the teaming for trainer John Butenschoen in race 10, The Evictor took over from Yankee Manny in the stretch drive and powered to an impressive 1:54.3 victory, fastest trotting mile of the five-program season at the central New York 7/8ths-mile harness track.

The quick-striding score was the first locally, the second this season and the 14^th overall for the 5-year-old son of Valley Victory, a career earner of more than $473,000 who is shared in ownership by William C. Wiswell and Jean Goehlen.

Hold On Tightly continued his first-place fetish with a sparkling 1:57.1 tally for trainer and driver Roman Lopez in race nine, fourth and final qualifying division in the second leg of the new Catherine Burton Memorial Trotting Series.  It was a career-best performance for the 4-year-old son of Cash Hall, who is registered to Richard Thurlow, and the swiftest series score to date.

Henry Wilson began the program with a Burton Series double, scoring with Majestic Won (1:58.1) in the opener and Beautiful Babe (1:58.4) in Friday's second session.  Both square-gaiters are owned by Joan Rae Ellafrits and Lynn Wilson.

Defending dash and training champ Rick Plano piloted Frisky Girl to a 1:59.1 maiden-breaking victory in Friday's s other Burton donnybrook.  Peter Carney conditions the 5-year-old daughter of Frisky Fighter for Anne Wheeler and Dr. Robert Keller.

In addition to driver/trainer Wilson, Plano produced his second four-win outing here in 2013 during Friday's 13-race card, while Miller also won with the Jenny Melander-owned and trained trotter Don Dinero (1:58.4) in the evening's 11^th event.  It was the first career tally for the 7-year-old son of Revenue S.

DOWNS DOINGS—The Burton Series will conclude with a championship clash next Saturday night (May 4)…Plano's four-bagger came in races five through eight…The Downs began its new Showdown Handicapping Contest on Friday night…Saturday's 13-race card, which features an Open Pace and two divisions in the second and final round of the Anthony Farina Memorial Pacing Series, will also offer the "Spring Fever Handicapping Contest."  First post is at 6:45 p.m…The Downs will continue Friday and Saturday evening racing through May 4.  Thursday nights will be added starting May 9…Vernon's 90-card campaign continues through November 2…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

VERNON DOWNS "SHOWDOWN" CONTEST BEGINS TOMORROW

$1,500 top prize, contestants must register for free by Friday, April 26

The inaugural edition of Vernon Downs "Showdown" contest begins tomorrow (Friday) as the track's live racing season continues. Free registration is still available.

"Showdown" requires contestants to select one horse in any race each racing night. That horse must finish first, second or third in order for the contestant to remain in the competition. If the contestant is successful, they will advance to the next race night, otherwise, they will be eliminated.

Contestants must register for free and make their horse selection no later than 6:35 PM Eastern Time Friday, April 26 in order to be eligible for the contest.

The contestant that lasts the longest will win the $1,500 top prize. The runner-up will receive $750.

Fans can register and make their daily selection by visiting showdown.vernondowns.com.

Free online streaming video is also available on the Vernon Downs website so contestants can follow along with their selections each race night.

Thirty Two Red posts lifetime mark, Farina Pacing Series Underway

Rick Plano, who became the first driver to win four races on a Vernon Downs program this season, guided Rock Man to the fastest divisional victory in Saturday night's new Anthony J. Farina Memorial Pacing Series.

After initial first-leg Farina Series scores by Eternal Terror (1:56.1, with trainer Roman Lopez driving for the Tanah Merah Farms) and Red Rock (1:54.2, with trainer and part-owner Ray Schnittker steering for his partner Dr. John Egloff) in Saturday's second and fifth races, respectfully, Plano went out and hustled Rock Man to a 1:53.4 triumph in the eighth event for trainer Howard Okusko, Sr. and owner Linda Manzi of Oneida.

Rock Man's time in the final Farina mile was a career-best effort for the 4-year-old son of Art Major-Gone Dancing, and only his second ever trip to the winner's circle. 

Plano, who is tied with Roman Lopez at nine for most Vernon victories after four current racing nights, also finished first with the pacers Ideally Magic (1:56.1), Iza Believer (1:54.1) and Where's Waldo (1:55.3).  He is the track's defending driving and training champion.

Thirty Two Red (far) posts a lifetime best 1:53.3 win on Saturday night

Schnittker secured a double during the program by teaming the pacer Thirty-Two Red to a 1:53.3 lifetime best victory in the sixth race that proved to be the fastest of 13 Saturday scores.  The quick-footed 3-year-old son of Bettor's Delight-Sakura Hanover is shared in ownership by trainer Schnittker, Theodore Gewertz, Steve Arnold, Mal and Janet Burroughs.

Other multiple winners during Saturday's slate were Lopez and driver Chris Lems, each with three tallies.   

DOWNS DOINGS—The Lopez trained and driven Shaolin Master, winner of race 10 in 1:57.4, became the first two-time winning pacer at the fledgling meet…Following Lopez and Plano atop Vernon's driver standings after four programs is Chris Lems with seven scores…The pacer Sweet Bettor, owned by the Triple C Stable, secured her "maiden" victory after Lems teamed the 4-year-old mare to a 1:59.1 success in Saturday's 12^th event…The Downs will continue Friday and Saturday evening racing only (first post 6:45) through May 4.  Thursday nights will be added starting May 9…Vernon's 90-card campaign continues through November 2…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

A Penny Earned splashes to Open Trot win

A Penny Earned captured the $10,000 Open trot, while Ray Schnittker secured two scores in the opening round of the Catherine Burton Memorial Trotting Series on a rainy Friday night at Vernon Downs.

Competing over a "sloppy" track in race nine, A Penny Earned eked out a neck tally in his initial venture of 2013.  With Chris Lems doing the driving, the determined 4-year-old bay horse rallied on the outside from fourth at the half and closed from second in the final strides to nip the front-striding Grey Ice in an impressive 1:57.3 performance. 

It marked the ninth career win for the quick-footed son of Conway Hall-Penny Dream, who boosted his all-time winnings to $206,556 for trainer George Ducharme and his ownership partners Alfred Ross, Paul Fontaine and Nicola Oliva.  The bay battler's winning time was just 3/5ths of a second off the fastest trotting mile of the three-night meet, set by Aruba Vacation last Friday.

Trainer Schnittker steered Il Pizzaiolo (2:01.4) and Laughing King (1:59.4) to victories in the new Burton Series, which honors the memory of a long-time track horsewoman and owner, who passed away at the age 88 last January. The first-place finishes resulted in initial career scores for each promising sophomore son of Deweycheatumnhowe.

Friday's other Burton winners were Pollux Blue Chip (2:00.4) and Hold On Tightly (2:01.4).

Friday's fastest mile was a 1:53.3 spin around Vernon's soggy 7/8ths-mile oval in race eight by Buck Stops Here, with John MacDonald doing the teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard and her partners Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo.   

DOWNS DOINGS—The meet's initial two-time winners are the trotters Hold On Tightly, Ziegler Hanover, Alarming Quick and Scorpion Moon, who secured his 92^nd career tally in race 12…In addition to Schnittker, Friday doubles were recorded by defending driving and training champ Rick Plano, Chris Lems, owner Theodore Gewertz and conditioner Brainard…Saturday's 13-race slate includes three divisions in the new Anthony Farina Memorial Pacing Series and begins at 6:45 p.m…The Downs will continue Friday and Saturday evening racing (first post 6:45) only through May 4.  Thursday nights will be added starting May 9…Vernon's 90-card campaign continues through November 2…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

VERNON DOWNS ‘SHOWDOWN’ CONTEST OPEN FOR REGISTRATION TODAY

Online handicapping contest beginning April 26 offers free entry, $1,500 top prize

Vernon Downs is giving fans and horseplayers another way to win big this season by launching a free-to-enter online handicapping contest beginning April 26. Though the competition does not begin until April 26, free registration is open now.

Vernon Downs Showdown requires contestants to select one horse in any race each racing night.  That horse must finish first, second or third in order for the contestant to remain in the competition.  If the contestant is successful, they will advance to the next race night, otherwise, they will be eliminated.

The contestant that lasts the longest will win the $1,500 top prize. The runner-up will receive $750.

“I think this is a great contest because it sounds so simple, not only for our newer handicappers and racing fans, but also for the more experienced horseplayers out there,” said Justin Horowitz, Regional Racing Marketing Manager for Vernon Downs. “I’m hoping this will prove to be a great way to help showcase our product to fans across North America.”

Fans are encouraged to register now by visiting showdown.vernondowns.com.

All contestants must be registered and submit their selection no later than 10 minutes before the first post time at Vernon Downs. First post time on April 26 is 6:45 p.m.

Free online streaming video is also available on the Vernon Downs website so contestants can follow along with their selections each race night.

Vernon Downs’s historic 60^th Anniversary season resumes Friday with a 6:45 p.m. first post time.