Track Records Fall in both Empire Breeders Classic Finals

The superiority of New York-bred 3-year-old trotters For A Dancer and Archangel was again apparent on Friday night at Vernon Downs by virtue of the fact that each was a track record-breaking winner in this season's $472,750 Empire Breeders Classic divisional events.

For A Dancer remained undefeated in four season's starts (two at Vernon) with a career-best 1:54 effort in the $239,500 EBC filly flight, while Archangel lowered his win-mark for the second straight week with a sizzling 1:53.1 triumph in the $233,250 EBC colt clash.

For A Dancer wins the EBC Filly Final

Former Downs regular Jeff Gregory was again behind the favorite For A Dancer ($3.40) in Friday's sixth session as the bay daughter of Conway Hall-Fluttering Wings followed Borrow And Spend off the starting gate, took the lead before the half, reached in :57.4, and continued on to a two-length tally over the closing Fortunista.  It was the 12^th score (coupled with a second and a third-place finish) in 15 lifetime starts for the career-winner of $436,879, who is trained by Joe Holloway and owned by the Bluestone Farms.  She trimmed one-fifth of a second off the former 1:54.1 Vernon standard for her class, which was set by George Steinbrenner's Personal Banner in the 1996 Breeders Crown final.

Archangel lowers his own track record in EBC Final

Archangel ($3.10), who has collected three of his four straight victories over Vernon's 7/8ths-mile oval, improved his current record to four wins and a second-place finish in five starts with a lifetime-fastest 1:53.1 showing in race nine.  The black son of Credit Winner-Michelle's Angel was eased off the gate in fourth place by driver Jim Morrill, Jr., took the lead with a sweeping overland move in the second quarter, and, when challenged by the pocket-sitting Coraggioso in the final furlong, accelerated to a 1-3/4 length triumph.  The time clipped3/5ths-of-a-second off the previous Downs standard that Archangel has posted with an elimination tally here on June 1.  The career winner of $288,701 now sports seven scores in 18 lifetime outings for part-owner/trainer Peter Arrigenna and his partners, Alan C. Hainsworth and Clare M. Semer.

Friday's $9,500 seventh race, the week's Open trot, was captured by newcomer Speed Bomb, who earned a fresh win-mark and established a Vernon record for aged trotting horses with his eye-popping 1:53.3 gate-to-wire victory.  Jason Bartlett drove for trainer Ron Burke, the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, the JJK Stable and Phillip Collura as the speedy 9-year-old bay son of Master Lavec-Mighty J C recorded his 41^st lifetime score (third this term) and increased his all-time winnings to $821,428.

The previous 1:55.1 local speed standard for older trotting horses was set by Fight Cheer in 1999 and equaled by John Paul's Legacy in 2010.

Driver Rick Plano won four of Friday's 12 races and chalked up three training tallies, while Gregory and Morrill, Jr. each piloted a pair of first-place finishers.        

DOWNS DOINGS—Morrill, Jr. has visited Vernon on four occasions this year and has chalked up 17 victories…The Downs will simulcast all of tomorrow afternoon's races from Belmont Park, including the 144^th running of the Belmont Stake at approximately 6:35 p.m…Saturday's live 12-race Vernon card, featuring the week's $9,500 Open pace, will begin at 6:55 p.m...Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

EBC Trotting Finals Friday at Vernon

The top NY bred trotting sophomores will gather at Vernon Downs on Friday evening to contest the rich Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) finals. 

Ladies first, and the chase for the big share of the $239,500 final (race 6) is led by last year's NYSS final winner For A Dancer. 

Trained by Joe Holloway for owner Bluestone Farms, the Conway Hall filly has been flawless this season, lowering her lifetime record to 1:54.3 in last week's elim for regular pilot Jeff Gregory.

That one was a narrow victory over Cowgirl Hall, who returns as part of a three-pronged Ted Gewertz/Ray Schnittker entry in the final, looking to be just a head better than she was last week. 

Anandamide won the other elimination and her driver Jimmy Morrill always seems to have a little something left for next week.

Speaking of Morrill, he has his regular seat behind Archangel, the favorite in the $233,250 colt final (race 9).

Trainer Pete Arrigenna shares ownership of the handsome Credit Winner colt with Alan Hainsworth and Clare Semer and brings him into the EBC razor sharp.

Three wins in 1:55 or faster in four starts this season, including last week's track record of 1:53.4 (erasing Deweycheatumnhowe's 1:54 previous standard) on what was not a particularly balmy evening makes Archangel an obvious favorite and has his connections dreaming the big dream.

Coraggioso had the jump on the fave last week until making an untimely jump of his own in late stretch while moving like a winner.

Owners Joe Spadaro and Tom Durkin (yes, that Tom Durkin) could reap major rewards if their colt stays focused for trainer-driver Phil Fluet in this one.

War Cry Hall rewarded his sparse crew of backers with an $80 win ticket in the other elim last week and will be tracking the top choice in this one.

Post time at the venerable Vernon, NY 7/8's mile strip is 6:55PM on Friday and if the weather cooperates, sparks will fly.

Check this website for video of last week's races and further details.

Elleofnxample Surges to Thursday night feature win

Elleofnxample produced a strategic surge that carried her to a 1:52.4 victory in Thursday night's $9,500 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs.

Todd Frocione did the teaming for trainer Tony Mondi and his father, Lon,  in the week's Open contest for female pacers as Elleofnxample ($15.20) rallied from fourth at the quarter with a first-over move on the backstretch, then past the half, timed in :57.2, took command and outlasted the  fast-closing Glam Cam by half-a-length at the finish.

Elleofnxample surges to the lead to win Thursday's $9,500 F&M Open Pace

Thursday's tally was the second this season (first at Vernon) and the 16^th all-time for the quick-footed 6-year-old daughter of N Xample-Farline Hanover, who bumped her career winnings up to $122,384.

Driver Chris Lems raised his meet-leading win total to 33 with a triple during Thursday's 11-race card, while runner-up dash winner Rick Plano posted a driving and training double during the meet's 18^th program.  It was also a multiple win night for drivers Brian Connor (2) and Frank Milby (2).

DOWNS DOINGS—The Downs will host the championship races in this season's rich Empire Breeders Classic for New York-bred 3-year-old trotters tomorrow night, with the $239,500 filly flight going off as the sixth race and the $233,250 male showdown set for the ninth event.  Friday's 12-race card, which will also include the week's $9,500 Open trot, is set to start at 6:55 p.m…The veteran trotters Ray's Commando and Armbro Doyle each became three-time winners at the meet during Thursday's card....Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD AT TIOGA DOWNS AND VERNON DOWNS

Artiscape, Bettor's Delight, and Empire Breeders Classic highlight the weekend schedule

A look back at the career of famed pacer Artiscape as his namesake race is only days away. That's the highlight of this week's edition of "Inside Harness Racing."

"Inside Harness Racing," a weekly, half-hour television show, airs today (Wednesday) at a special time of 10:30 PM on Time Warner Cable Sports throughout Upstate New York.  For the second year in a row, the show will also be broadcast on HPI TV in Canada .  Viewers can also watch every episode online at the Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/tiogadowns).

Host Justin Horowitz takes a trip down Route 17 to picturesque Winbak Farm to visit the 17-year-old stallion Artiscape. Artiscape was the 1998 3-year-old pacing colt of the year and has sired seven millionaires during his breeding career.

Tioga Downs will host the $200,000 Artiscape Open Mare Pace and the $200,000 Bettor's Delight Open Pace this Sunday, June 10.

This week's show also looks back at the eliminations leading up to Friday night's Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs.

Also, Meadowlands commentator Wendy Ross makes her return to the show with an interesting look at the role of whips in harness racing.

Here's this week's episode:

Diamond Stick Pin is back on top

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 23^rd 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 999^th 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.

Archangel's Track Record tops Empire Breeders Classic Eliminations

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.

Archangel establishes a new track record for 3-year-old colt trotters

Jim Morrill, Jr. drove in the $12,500 10^th 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 85^th 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.

High Speed Life's flying rally leads to Thursday feature win

High Speed Life became the 26^th winner of two or more races at Vernon Downs after 15 current programs following her 1:53 performance in Thursday night's $9,500 featured 10^th event.

Competing against eight eager rivals in the week's Open for female pacers, High Speed Life ($10.80) idled in sixth until the half, timed in :56.3, before launching a high-flying rally around the final turn that propelled her into the lead entering the final quarter and on to a 1-1/2-length victory over newcomer The Assassinator.

Roman Lopez and High Speed Life win Thursday's feature

Thursday's come-from-behind tally by High Speed Life was her second in three local outings this season, the fourth in 2012 and her 25^th all-time.  Trainer Roman Lopez drove the 6-year-old daughter of Lease On Life-Nano, who has accumulated more than $447,000 in career earnings.

Lopez, who earned his eighth driving and seventh training triumph at the meet, shares ownership of the mature bay mare with Mitchell Frair.

LeWayne Miller, teaming with the trotters Mystical Muscles and Rocky Malibu for trainer Erv Miller, earned a driving double in his 2012 Downs debut.   

DOWNS DOINGS—14 pacers have captured two or more wins through May at the Downs, while 12 others have accomplished this feat on the trotting gait…Mystical Valentine and Cheap N Easy share the lead among members of the lateral gait with three wins each, while Ziegler Hanover sits alone atop the trotting chart with three... Mystical Muscles and Rocky Malibu each earned their maiden victories on Thursday…Leslie Hale tied Josh Kinney and Brandon Loomis at two for the lead among provisional drivers at the meet following his 1:54 victory behind the pacer P L Eclipse in Thursday's sixth session…Vernon will host four elimination races for the $500,000 (est.) Empire Breeders Classic championship races for 3-year-old trotters, to be held here on Friday, June 8.  Two of tomorrow night's elims will be for male members of the diagonal gait and two for females.  Friday's 12-race card, which also includes the week's $9,500 Open trot, will begin at 6:55 p.m…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.