Vernon, NY – Spy Booth, who was 0 for 11 lifetime entering the race, broke his maiden in winning the $325,000 Zweig Memorial Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

Spy Booth broke his maiden and set a lifetime mark in winning the $325,000 Zweig Memorial Saturday night at Vernon Downs. USTA/Mark Hall Photo.

The 3-year-old Muscle Hill-Amour Harris gelding, who finished second in the Hambletonian three weeks ago, established a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3 in the victory and paid $21.60 to win.

After odds-on favorite Dancinginthedark M (Tim Tetrick) broke at the start, Spy Booth (Dexter Dunn), who left from post six, settled into fifth as Ambassador Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) led the field through fractions of :27 and :56.

Balanciaga (Scott Zeron), who would cross the finish line third but be placed second when Take All Comers (David Miller) was disqualified from second to fifth after a late break, took the lead after three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Spy Booth moved to the lead in the stretch and held on for the victory with a :28 final quarter.

With the disqualification of Take All Comers to fifth, Zenith Stride (Andrew McCarthy) was placed third and Goodashim (Andy Miller) was moved up to fourth.

Nancy Takter trains the first-time winner who is owned by John Fielding, David Anderson, Robert LeBlanc, and Marvin Katz.

Spy Booth is the first maiden in history to win the Zweig.  With his first career victory, he is now 1-3-2 in 12 lifetime starts and increased his career earnings to $435,582.

Darlene Hanover wins the $140,000 Zweig Memorial Filly Trot

Contested Hanover (Tim Tetrick), Splash Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt), and Iteration (Brian Sears) all left for the lead and were three across the track as they headed for the first turn.  Iteration wrestled the lead away and led to the first quarter in :27.1.  Iteration used a :30.3 second quarter to hit the half in :57.4.  Darlene Hanover made her move first-over going around the far turn.  Iteration still led to three-quarters in 1:26.4.

As they reached the stretch Darlene Hanover blew right on by and breezed home to win easily in 1:53.4.  Aunt Irene (Dexter Dunn) came closing late to finish second.  Contested Hanover was third.

Darlene Hanover is a filly by Chapter Seven.  She is owned by Yankeeland partners and trained by Brett Bittle.  It was her third win of the season and seventh career victory.

Big longshot, Bare My Soul wins the $51,300 first division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old trotting fillies

Gertrude (Andy Miller) jumped to the lead and controlled all the early fractions (:27.1, :57.3, 1:27.1) as Bare My Soul ($67.50) followed in the pocket.

As they reached the stretched, Bare My Soul slipped through the inside as Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy) came three-wide with late trot.  Bare My Soul dug in and won in 1:54.4.  Valentina Blu had to settle for second.  Gertrude held for third.

Bare My Soul is a filly by Chapter Seven-Celebrity Angel.  She is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, Joe Lozito Jr., and Enviro Stables.  It was her first career victory.

Joviality S (Brian Sears) charges late to wins the $50,400 second division

Cash Infusion (Mark MacDonald) went to the lead and hit the first quarter first in :27.3.  She led to the half in :57.4 and to three-quarters in 1:27.0.

As they reached the stretch, Joviality S ($2.10) made her move and got by second place finisher Cash Infusion in deep stretch to win in 1:54.3.  She’s A Scorcher (Scott Zeron) was third.

Joviality S is a 2-year-old filly by Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face.  She is owned by Courant Inc. and trained by Marcus Melander.  It was her fourth win in five career starts.

Also, on the night David Miller drove the Ron Burke trained Cattlewash to a track record for 4-year-old horses in 1:49 in the $10,000 Open-Preferred Pace.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (Sept. 3).  Post time is 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.