Vernon, NY – Special Mission (Dan Daley) takes the $8,500 featured Open Trot on Friday (June 19).
Dewey Arnold (Jeff Gregory) went straight to the front and zoomed to the quarter in :28.0. He used a :29.2 second quarter to be first to the half in :57.2. Special Mission ($5.10) made his move midway around the final turn. Dewey Arnold led to three quarters in 1:25.3.
Second place finisher Dewey Arnold and Special Mission battled all the way down the stretch. Special Mission surged to the front late to win in 1:54.2. Forty G’s (Roman Lopez) finished third.
Special Mission is a 7-year-old horse by Walner. He is owned by John Kokinos and trained by Daley. It was his first win this season and his 10th career victory. Frank Affrunti had a driving hat trick.
Today the Vernon horse people all met in the winner’s circle at the start of the races to honor the 17 horses that were lost in the horrible fire at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (June 20) with a post time of 5:05 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.