Arch Madness powers past the field in Saturday's Open Trot; Night 2 of State Fair Stakes

Arch Madness

The veteran Arch Madness began Saturday night's 13-race agenda with style and substance, trotting to a 1:52.3 victory in the $10,000 Open contest, which proved to be the fastest mile by a diagonally-gaited performer after 54 current programs at Vernon Downs.

Trainer Trond Smedshammer did the teaming in Saturday's first race as Arch Madness rallied overland from fourth at the half, swept into the lead around the track's final turn, and then on to a convincing 3-1/4-length triumph.  It was the first win this season, but the 32^nd all-time for the career-winner of nearly $3,930,000, who is owned by Marc Goldberg and the Willow Pond stable.

Saturday's slate also featured seven Excelsior Series divisions in the $89,600 State Fair program for 2-year-olds, three for colt and gelding pacers and four for first-year male trotters.

With Roman Lopez at the controls, Believeinthespirit (Art Major) forged his way to a strong-striding 1:53.2 tally in the 11^th event, which equaled his lifetime mark and missed the season's standard for freshman colt side-wheelers by one tick of the timer. (The 1:53.1 season's standard for this class was set by Jet Airway last night.) It was the second win in succession for the bay youngster, who is trained by Ed Lohmeyer and owned by Lauren and Robert Tucker.

Saturday's other 2-year-old colt pacing Excelsior Series winners were Great American (American Ideal), who scored in 1:53.3 in the second race, with Chris Lems steering for co-owner/trainer Tony Alagna and the Riverview Racing Stable, and Natural Leda (Bettor's Delight), who earned a 1:55 speed badge with Rick Plano teaming for trainer Mark Harder and the Deena Rachel Frost, John D. Fielding and Rick D. Phillips ownership group in the eighth event.

Elegante Attire's (Conway Hall) 1:57.4 score in the fifth race proved to be the swiftest score in Saturday's freshman male trot.  Trainer John Stark, Jr. drove for owners E. Carlyle Smith, David Smith, Jim Giannuzzi and Jeff Gural's Little E, LLC ownership contingent.

Saturday's other Excelsior Series trotting winners were the colts Royal Max (Rc Royalty) in 1:59.1, Hallanet (Cash Hall) in 1:59.3, and Crazolo (Crazed) in 1:59.4. 

Smedshammer secured three wins during the evening, two for Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables.  Drivers Lems, Stark, Jimmy Whittemore and owners E. Carlyle Smith, David Smith and Jim Giannuzzi were the recipients of two tallies each.

DOWNS DOINGS—First-time winners during Saturday's card were the trotters Elegante Attire, Hallanet, Royal Max, Crazolo, plus the pacers Great American and Natural Leda…A special Sunday program tomorrow night (Aug. 25) will feature the initial round of this season's 7^th-Annual All-Star Drivers' Championship, as well as the $700,000 (est.) Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters.  There will also be a Corey Callahan bobblehead doll giveaway,  free drivers' championship T-shirts (both items dispensed while supplies last), as well as an iPad and Laptop computer giveaway…A revised 2013 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.

Spreester and Barefoot Beauty speed stars of night 1 of State Fair Stakes

 The 2-year-old filly pacers Spreester (American Ideal) and Barefoot Beauty (Art Major) each delivered career-best 1:54.3 clockings in Friday night's $76,100 New York State Fair competition at Vernon Downs, while in a non-Excelsior series event, the 2-year-old colt pacer Jet Airway (Jereme's Jet) became the fastest freshman performer of the 53-program meeting with a 1:53.1 performance in race seven.

Barefoot Beauty and Ron Waples

The victories by Spreester and Barefoot Beauty came in divisions of Friday's $37,900 Excelsior series for NY-breds, and tied another frosh filly high-stepper, Misty Major, for fastest mile honors by a representative of their age, sex and gait through Aug. 23.

Spreester's score, her fifth in seven career outings, came in Friday's fourth event with Frank Coppola, Jr. doing the driving for trainer Paul Zabielski and owner Kimberley Zabielski, while Barefoot Beauty's second season's triumph came two races later, with Ron Waples doing the steering for trainer Gregg McNair and owner James Avritt, Sr.

Spreester and driver Frank Coppola, Jr.

Friday's other 2-year-old filly pacing winner was Sweet Brown (Bettor's Delight), who earned a 1:55.1 "maiden" victory with Jim Morrill, Jr. doing the teaming for trainer Amber Buter and owner Tyler L. Buter in race five.

Jet Air Way produced his second win in five starts with Charlie Norris at the controls for trainer Erv Miller, the Ervin Miller Stable, Tangle Massey, Paul Sunderhaus and Larry Agle.

The swiftest first-place finisher in Friday's $38,200 Excelsior series action for 2-year-old trotting fillies was Thoughtfilly (Conway Hall), with Morrill, Jr. driving in the first race.  It was the second score in five starts for quick-stepping bay, who is trained by Brandon Simpson and owned by the Mystical Marker Farms, Peggy Hood, Dirk Simpson Stable and the Simpson Racing Stable.

Friday's other trotting division winners were Absinthe (Crazed) in 1:59.4 in race nine, and Lindy's Crazy Dolly (Crazed) in 2:00 in event 10, each a first-time starter trained by Frank Antonacci for the Lindy Farms of CT and the Lindy Racing Stable, respectively.

Chris Lems, who teamed both Absinthe and Lindy's Crazy Dolly, earned his 15^th driving double of the Vernon campaign, while Antonacci earned a pair of conditioning credits, and Morrill, Jr. two driving wins.

DOWNS DOINGS—In addition to Sweet Brown, Absinthe and Lindy's Crazy Dolly, other equine athletes earning their initial pari-mutuel victories during Friday's 12-race program were the freshman trotter Justin On Broadway (Broadway Hall) in 1:59.4, and the 3-year-old pacer Battle Gun (Dragon Again) in 1:55.1…The Downs will continue with State Fair racing for New York-bred freshmen tomorrow (Aug. 24), with male trotters and pacers displaying their talents in seven Excelsior series divisions during a 13-race program, that will begin at 6:45 p.m…A special program on Sunday, Aug. 25 will feature the first round of this season's 7^th-Annual All-Star Drivers' Championship, as well as the $700,000 (est.) Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters.  There will also be a Corey Callahan bobblehead doll giveaway,  free drivers' championship T-shirts (both items dispensed while supplies last), as well as an iPad and Laptop computer giveaway…A revised 2013 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.

Consistent Elleofnxample wins Thursday's Fillies and Mares Open Pace

Elleofnxample takes the Thursday feature

The purse-earning pacer Elleofnxample unleashed her patented late charge and came away with a 1:53.2 triumph in Thursday night’s $10,000 feature for Open female pacers at Vernon Downs.

Todd Frocione, 49-year-old son of Syracuse owner Lon Frocione, did the teaming in Thursday’s ninth race as Elleofnxample started out sixth among the seven distaffers. 

As the pace-setter, Abbey Road Hanover rolled through splits of :27, :56 and 1:24.1 over a rain-dampened "good" track, Elleofnxample began her scenic rally around the final bend, advancing to third entering the last furlong.  The 7-year-old mare closed in a :28.2 final quarter to pass and defeat the mile-cutter (who finished third), and the on-rushing challenger, Love You Bye, who ended up three-quarters of a length back in second.

Thursday's tally was the fourth locally and fifth this season for the Tony Mondi-conditioned daughter of N Xample-Fairline Hanover, who currently sports 26 lifetime victories and earnings of more than $250,600.  

Thursday's fastest win was a 1:53.1 showing by the 5-year-old pacing mare Southwind Lavanda, who captured the evening’s first event, with Jimmy Whittemore teaming for trainer/part-owner James Healey and the Stephane Bouchard stable.

John MacDonald won three of Thursday's 12 races, while Whittemore, along with driver Chris Lems and trainer Leopold Sawyers, were each credited with a pair of first-place finishes during the track's 52^nd program of 2013.

DOWNS DOINGS—The MacDonald-steered pacer Gramjesty earned his first pari-mutuel victory after a 1:56.3 effort in Thursday's 12^th race.  Chip Zombick conditions the 3-year-old gelding for owners Michael Pozefsky, William Pozefsky and Myron Ekstein…The Downs begins two straight nights of State Fair racing for New York-bred freshmen tomorrow (Aug. 23), with filly trotters and pacers displaying their talents on Friday, while the male Standardbreds take over the spotlight on Saturday evening; first post at 6:45 each night…A special program on Sunday, Aug. 25 will feature the first round of this season’s 7^th-Annual All-Star Drivers’ Championship, as well as the $700,000 (est.) Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters.  There will also be a Corey Callahan bobblehead doll giveaway,  free drivers' championship T-shirts (both items dispensed while supplies last), as well as an iPad and laptop computer giveaway…A revised 2013 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.

PLANO, MAROHN SET TO DEFEND THE HOME TURF AT 7TH ANNUAL TIOGA/VERNON ALL-STAR DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Leading local drivers to represent host tracks against North America’s premier drivers beginning at Vernon Downs on Sunday night

VERNON, NY – The Tioga/Vernon All-Star Drivers’ Championship has changed formats and locations during its first six years, but one thing has remained constant throughout: the driver representing the host track has never won the top prize.

Rick Plano and Jimmy Marohn, Jr are out to change that when the all-star competition begins with its first round at Vernon Downs on Sunday night. Sunday’s first round includes four races. Points will then be carried over to the final round at Tioga Downs on September 2 that will include five races.

Marohn scoring 1 of his 59 wins this year at Tioga Downs

“I’ve always said these guys are the easiest to race with but the toughest to beat,” said Jimmy Marohn, Jr. who is the leading driver at Tioga Downs with 59 wins, but finished 9^th in his only other appearance in the Drivers’ Championship. “They know how to give their horse a good trip and they get every bit of power out of every horse they drive.”

Plano will compete in his first Drivers’ Championship by virtue of leading the Vernon Downs driver standings by 26 wins over his closest pursuer.

“With the exception of Ronnie Pierce, I’ve got a few years on all those boys,” said the 61-year-old Plano, “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing though.”

In addition to age, Plano, a native of nearby Frankfort, will have a unique advantage on all of his competitors on Sunday night. Three of the four horses he’ll drive are horses he also trains.

Rick Plano at Vernon Downs

“My other advantage is that I know all of the horses I’ll be racing against,” said Plano. “Any driver will tell you it’s a big advantage when you know your opponent; you know who can leave and who can do what during a race. I feel like I got a shot at $10,000 before we even start just because it’s my home court.”

The leader at the end of Sunday’s first round will get $10,000. The overall winner of the competition after the final round at Tioga Downs wins $25,000.

Sunday night’s card at Vernon also includes the $360,000 Zweig Memorial Trot featuring Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life, who will race on his home track for the first time since capturing harness racing’s most prestigious race.

A driver autograph session, Corey Callahan bobblehead and commemorative t-shirt giveaway will begin at 5:45 p.m. First race post time is 6:45 p.m.

‘GRAND OLD MAN’ LOOKS FOR CLASS RELIEF AT VERNON DOWNS

Story by Nick Salvi for Vernon Downs

VERNON, NY - The Saturday card at Vernon Downs contrasts the old and the new as trotting's "Grand Old Man" Arch Madness makes an appearance in the $10,000 Open trot and seven divisions of State Fair races for freshman colts fill out the card.

"Archie" seeks a little relief from battling the very best in the world as he closes in on $4 million in career earnings in the opener. His longtime companion Trond Smedshammer will drive for Marc Goldberg and Willow Pond LLC.

Three splits of colt pacers go beginning in races two, eight and eleven. Riverview Racing & Alagna Racing's Great American looks to break maiden in the first split. Chris Lems will drive.

Division two favorite is Frost, Phillips & Fielding’s Natural Leda. He’s winless in five starts but catches a soft spot here with the meet’s top driver Rick Plano aboard. Then in the last division Lauren & Robert Tucker’s Believeinthespirit ships back in from Jersey looking to follow up his impressive 1:53.2 win at Tioga. Roman Lopez has the drive.

Trotting colts begin in race five, where Bob Key’s Karets is the oddsmaker’s pick, dropping from Sire Stakes to Excelsior level with Rick Plano. Race seven contains the Purple Haze Stable’s Hallanet. He was second in his career debut at Vernon a few weeks ago for Smedshammer. High Q is winless in four thus far despite showing speed and consistency for trainer/driver Gates Brunet and owner Ted Gewertz in the tenth race. That same combo, along with partners Jean and Debbie Brunet, sends out the cleverly named Wild And Crazy Guy in the twelfth. He has flashed high speed, including closing out a 1:57.2 win with a 27.1 final stanza in his last.