Two Track Records Fall on Saturday Night at Vernon Downs

Sophomore trotting standouts Jezzy and Dejarmbro lived up to their advanced billing, while I’m The Answer and Master’s Cook turned in track record performances during Saturday night's 12-race program at Vernon Downs.

Jezzy captured the first of two elimination divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies in the Empire Breeders Classic with a career best 1:56.1 mile, while last season's New York Sires Stakes champion Dejarmbro lowered his speed mark to 1:54.4 while winning one of three divisions of the EBC for sophomore colt and gelding high steppers.

Driven to victory by trainer Ray Schnittker, a part owner of the Credit Winner filly along with Jeff Gural, Jerry Silva and Theodore Gewertz, Jezzy turned a pocket trip into a solid score, her second in a row this season and 12th in 13 lifetime starts.

Dejarmbro, a son of Credit Winner owned by Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables, rallied from fourth at the quarter and closed from second in the homestretch to post his season's debut in the win column.Trainer Trond Smedshammer did the teaming as the capable colt improved to nine first-place finishes in 12 lifetime outings.

I'm The Answer, also owned by the Purple Haze Stables, lowered the Vernon record for 3-year-old trotting geldings to 1:54.3 with his victory in the first EBC male division, while Master's Cook set a fresh Downs mile-and-three-eighths standard for trotters with his 2:44.3 showing in the evening's first event.

Saturday's other filly elimination flight went to Four Damsals in 1:56.1.

Also qualifying for the $250,000 EBC distaff final, to be raced at the Downs at 1:15 on Memorial Day afternoon were Imageofasweetday, Miss Sue V, Temper Of Will, Some Girls, Em El Cash, Leah's Ex and Epona Blue Chip.

The final EBC segment for male square-gaiters was won by Evil Urges in 1:56.

Completing the field for the $250,000 colt and gelding final on May 30 will be Surface Tension, Keenan, Whatever It Takes, All In Tad, Wheels and Whitewater Rapids.

Philip Hale's Mystical Valentine won Saturday's $10,000 Open-1 pace in 1:52.

The meet's leading reinsman, Jimmy Whittemore, chalked up three wins during the evening, while Smedshammer, Jeff Gregory and Jack Rice earned driving doubles.

Trainers Tracy Brainard and George Ducharme also harnessed a pair of first-place finishers during the track's 15th program of 2011.

DOWNS DOINGS - In a drawing by lot conducted during the program, Epona Blue Chip got the nod over the other fifth-place finisher, Pretty As My Mom, to become the final eligible for the Memorial Day filly championship field. Pretty As My Mom will serve as the race's first also-eligible... I’m The Answer clipped two-fifths-of-a-second off the former track mark for 3-year-old geldings, that was set by Whata Winner in May of 2010... Vernon's previous 1-3/8ths-mile standard for trotters was 2:49.4, established by Chautauqua Jam (Whittemore driving) in June of 2009... There will be no live racing at the Downs this Thursday (May 26) due to the 1:15 Memorial Day matinee program on May 30. Thursday programs will resume on June 2... Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season and its casino can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.

Frosty Flirt Overcomes Outside Post to Win Friday night Feature

Tracy Brainard's fast-striding trotter Frosty Flirt didn’t disappoint in Friday night's $10,000 featured Open-1 contest at Vernon Downs.

Assigned the outside seven post in Friday's ninth event, Frosty Flirt ($4.50) got away fourth as Vacation Day cut a quarter in :27.2, a half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:26.1 over a track labeled good.

Moving into contention on the backstretch, the feisty 4-year-old mare finally took the lead in the final furlong and drew off for a 1-1/4 length victory over her pace-setting rival.

The 1:55 clocking was a new win mark for the bay daughter of Plesac-Village Flirt, and it was just ticks of the timer off the fastest trotting mile at the 14-night meeting.

The Brainard trainee now sports two wins in three current outings, 12 lifetime tallies and total earnings of more than $256,000.

Driver Frank Milby also won with the Sam Serianni-conditioned trotter Becca's Girl (2:01.2) to earn his meet-leading 5th double of the local campaign.

Leading dash-winning pilot Jimmy Whittemore captured the 12-race card's final three events to post his third triple of the year here, while driver Chris Lems also chalked up a double.

DOWNS DOINGS - Despite the off track label, eight of Friday's first-place finishers earned new win marks... The Bay Pond Racing Stable's sophomore trotter State Fair remained unbeaten after two current starts after a 1:58.4 career best showing for driver Joe Nassimos and trainer Howard Okusko, Sr. in Friday's fifth event... Fans attending tomorrow (May 21) will get the opportunity to watch and wager on thoroughbred racing's Preakness Stake from Maryland, then stay for Vernon's 12-race live card, that begins at 7:05 p.m. Saturday's talent rich line-up includes the week's $10,000 Open pace, plus five elimination divisions for the $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic sophomore trot that will conclude on Monday afternoon, May 30... There will be no live racing at the Downs on Thursday (May 26) due to the Memorial Day matinee at 1:15 on May 30. Thursday programs will resume on June 2… …Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season and its casino can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.

Blueridge Betty Pulls Off Upset in Thursday Night Feature

Blueridge Betty closed with a rush to win Thursday night's $10,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.

With trainer Joe Nassimos at the controls for the Big Sky Ranch, Blueridge Betty ($28.00) idled in or near last place through approximately three quarters of Thursday's Open contest for female pacers.

Hemmed in fourth entering the stretch drive, the slick-striding 5-year-old mare exploited a late opening in the inside pylon path, zipped through (last quarter in :28.2 on a sloppy track) and came up with her second win at the meet, plus a fresh 1:53.4 record.

While defeating the favorite Semjac Legacy by a 1/2 length, the bay daughter of Modern Art-Miss Megan E raised her career summary to nine victories and earnings of nearly $74,000.

The pacer By All Means (Truman Gale driving for owner/trainer Robert C. Gale) and trotter Cello Hanover (Frank Milby teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard and owner Donald E. Brainard) became the third and fourth horses at the 13-night meet to become three-time winners with their Thursday tallies in 1:55.1 and 1:58.4, respectively.

Frank Davis and Fern Paquet, Jr. each posted driving doubles during Thursday's 12-race program.

DOWNS DOINGS - Truman Gale became the meet's initial four-time winning provisional reinsman following his first-place finish behind By All Means in Thursday's fifth contest... The meet's other three-time winning equines are the pacer P L Comestowin and trotter The Kentuckian... There will be no live racing at the Downs next Thursday (May 26) due to a Memorial Day matinee at 1:15 on May 30. Thursday programs will resume on June 2... Vernon will offer 12-race cards at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow (May 20) and Saturday (May 21). Saturday's slate includes the week's $10,000 Open pace and five elimination divisions for the $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic sophomore trot, which will conclude on Monday, May 30... Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season and its casino can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.

Empire Breeders' Classic eliminations highlight Vernon Saturday card

Eliminations for the $500,000 Empire Breeders' Classics will headline a 12-race card on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

Leading the way for 16 trotting fillies in the first division is Jezzy from the always powerful Ray Schnittker stable.

The 3-year old daughter of Credit Winner-Ladylind began her sophomore campaign last weekend at Vernon with a victory in a division of the John F Simpson.

Jezzy won by three-quarters of a length as the 1-5 prohibitive favorite in 1:57.2.

Last year Jezzy posted 10 wins and a second from 11 seasonal starts with her only defeat coming in the New York Sire Stakes Final.

Jezzy will start from post position number four on Saturday night in the first division for trotting fillies slated as race number two.

On the men's side, Dejarmbro leads a group of 25 3-year old colt and gelding trotters in the second of three divisions slated as race number six.

Dejarmbro was the 2010 NYSS champion for freshman trotters last year and also won an elimination of the Breeders' Crown at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in a lifetime best of 1:55.

Since last year the 3-year old son of Credit Winner–Armbro Déjà vu has relocated to the Trond Smedshammer Stable to begin his run at what the connections hope to be a Hambletonian campaign.

Trond Smedshammer is listed to drive Dejarmbro from post position number two on Saturday night after winning his second qualifier of the year at The Meadowlands in 1:56.2.

The rich $500,000 finals will be contested on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30th) with an afternoon post time of 1:15 pm.

Vernon Downs begins its weekend of live racing action on Thursday, May 19th with a post time of 7:05 pm.

For more information please visit us online at www.vernondowns.com.

Talented Trotters Jezzy, Ice Machine Shine in Simpson Stakes

The talented trotters Jezzy and Ice Machine lived up to their top billing in Saturday night's $143,432 John Simpson Memorial Stakes action at Vernon Downs.

The highly-regarded Jezzy, who never finished worse than second in 11 freshman starts, delivered a career best 1:57.2 victory in Saturday's $24,670 ninth race of The Elma for 3-year-old trotting fillies, while Ice Machine, fresh off a 1:57.3 score in the prestigious, $160,850 Dexter Cup final at New Jersey's Freehold Raceway last Saturday, remained unbeaten after four current outings while dropping his speed-mark to 1:55.2 in the $23,47410th contest, final flight of The Ayres for sophomore male high-steppers.

Jezzy ($2.40), shared in ownership by Jeff Gural, Theodore Gewertz, Jerry Silva and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, took control of the fifth Simpson division past the half and scurried on to a ¾-length triumph in her season's debut.

The gifted daughter of Credit Winner-Ladylind now sports a record of 11 wins, a second-place finish and earnings of more than $275,400 after 12 career outings.

Ice Machine ($3.60) also took charge of the sixth and final Simpson set after the half, and then powered on to a 1-1/4 length tally for trainer-driver Charlie Norris and owner Robert Key.

The homebred son of Muscles Yankee-Icy Pleasure currently owns six wins and earnings of $137,813 following 14 lifetime appearances.

Saturday's other Simpson divisional winners in the filly flights were Madam Stacey (1:57.2), with trainer Trond Smedshammer steering for owner August Fredrik Miedel, and Some Girls (1:57.2), with part-owner and trainer Gates Brunet driving for the Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal and Jean Brunet partnership.

The other male Simpson clashes were won by Spectator K (1:56.1), with trainer Norris teaming for owner Key, and Charlie De Vie (1:56.1), with trainer Chris Ryder piloting for the Joie De Vie Farm.

On the pacing front, the tough, speedy veteran Stonebridge Wish captured the week's $10,000 Open-1 contest in 1:50.4 with Jack Rice doing the honors for owner and trainer Tracy Brainard in Saturday's 11th event.

DOWNS DOINGS - Norris and Stephane Bouchard earned driving doubles during Saturday's 12-race program... Madam Stacey and Spectator K also chalked up fresh win marks with their Simpson scores... Charlie De Vie is now unbeaten in two tries on the current campaign... Vernon will offer live racing at 7:05 Thursday-Saturday nights next week... Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season and its casino can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.

The Kentuckian at home at Vernon Downs

The Kentuckian extended his winning streak to three with a breezy 1:56.2 victory in Friday night's $8,000 featured 10th race at Vernon Downs.

After dueling with newcomer Fash Bash Girl early in Friday's Open-2 contest, The Kentuckian ($2.50) took charge and was never headed en route to a 2-1/4 length triumph over Mystic Splendor.

While tying the pacer P L Comestowin for meet's longest winning spree after 11 programs, the gritty 5-year-old gelding garnered his third win in five season's starts and his seventh career score.

Frank Milby drove the bay son of Windsong's Legacy for trainer Tracy Brainard, who owns the lifetime winner of $36,550 along with the Foulk Stables, Inc.

The Kentuckian's spirited score gave Milby and Brainard doubles during Friday's 12-race card, as they also combined for a first-place finish with the trotter Boy Meets Grill (owned by Brainard and Andrew Herzog) in Friday's seventh session.

Brian Connor was also credited with a pair of victories, guiding the pacers Southwind Trini (1:59) and Head First (1:57.1) into the track's winner's circle.

DOWNS DOINGS - Milby has earned six win credits in two programs this week, raising his meet total to 16, second only to defending champ Jimmy Whittemore... Brandon Loomis earned his first pari-mutuel driving victory after guiding Lewis Rosselli, Jr.'s trotter All Night Dwight to a fast-closing 1:59 tally in Friday's third race... The pacers Poker Champ, Southwind Trini, Head First, plus trotters Four Damsals and State Fair all posted their "maiden" victories during Friday's action... Saturday's 12-race line-up, which starts at 7:05 p.m., includes six divisions of the $143,432 John Simpson Memorial Stakes (three for female trotters and three for male high-steppers), plus the week's $10,000 Open pace... Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season and its casino can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.

Simpson Stakes Highlight Vernon Downs' Saturday 12-race card

Vernon Downs will play host to its first Grand Circuit stakes of the season as the John Simpson Stakes head to Vernon, New York on Saturday, May 14.

Three divisions for 3-year old colt and gelding trotters and three divisions for 3-year old filly trotters have been slated by Race Secretary Scott Warren.

Leading the way for the ladies is 2010 New York Sire Stakes runner-up, Jezzy from the Ray Schnittker Stable.

The 3-year old daughter of Credit Winner-Ladylind is owned in partnership by Ray Schnittker, Jerry Silva, Jeff Gural, and Theodore Gewertz.

Jezzy won 10 of 11 starts last year as a freshman and earned $263,138 competing mostly on the New York Sire Stakes circuit; she did take her freshman mark at The Meadowlands in a division of the Historic Series races in 1:57.3.

Ray Schnittker will drive Jezzy on Saturday and will start from post position number seven in the third and final division slated for race number nine.

Highlighting the three divisions for the colt and gelding trotters is Dexter Cup Champion, Ice Machine.

Charlie Norris ships into Vernon Downs after taking home the lion's share of the $160,850 purse from the Dexter Cup at Freehold last Saturday.

The homebred son of Muscles Yankee-Icy Pleasure is owned by Robert Key of Leechburg, Pa and is currently three for three in 2011.

Ice Machine and Charlie Norris have been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite and will start from post position number eight in the third and final division for the boys slated for race number 10 on the 12-race card.

Vernon Downs continues its weekend of live racing action on Friday with a post time of 7:05 pm and continues racing Saturday night at 7:05 pm.

For more information on Vernon Downs please visit us online at www.vernondowns.com.