Vernon, NY – Vernon Downs played host to four $250,000 Big Apple finals for 2-year-olds on Friday (Oct. 9).
Cowboy Candy, driven by Jason Bartlett, dominated the Big Apple filly pace final.
Carly Shay (Brett Beckwith) went straight to the front from post 5, blasting through an opening quarter in :25.4. Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) secured the early pocket spot, while 4-5 favorite Cowboy Candy sat patiently in fourth. Carly Shay led to the half in :54 before Cowboy Candy made her move heading around the final turn. She was a head off the lead at three-quarters in 1:21.2.
As they made the turn for home, Cowboy Candy opened a daylight advantage, pacing away from the field in hand to win by 4-1/4 lengths. She crossed the wire in a blazing 1:49.2, smashing the track record for freshman filly pacers. Annie O (Jeff Gregory) came up to finish second. Huntsvilles Honey (Tyler Buter) was third best.
Cowboy Candy is a filly by So Surreal-Caviart Elena. She is owned by Chain Lightning Stables and trained by Aaron Lambert. It was her eighth win in 10 career starts and increased her earnings to $347,450. She paid $3.86 to win.
Kountry Plunge, driven by Brian Sears, captured the Big Apple trot final for freshman filly trotters.
Jason Bartlett aggressively sent Secret Lover to the front from post 6, clicking off a sharp opening quarter of :27.2 seconds. Moving down the backstretch, Sears tipped Kountry Plunge to the outside using an effortless brush, and she cleared to the lead before the half-mile pole, getting to the half in :57.1. She cruised to three-quarters in 1:26.
As they made the turn for home, Kountry Plunge left the others in her dust, winning in a track-record time for freshman filly trotters in 1:53.2. Seven Thirds (driven by Matt Kakaley) was second best. Wavy Xavie (Jeff Gregory) finished third.
Kountry Plunge is a filly by Chaper Seven-Plunge Blue Chip. She is trained by Åke Svanstedt for owners OBM Stable, Svanstedt & Midnight Sun, Bender Sweden Inc., and Ecurie Diocles AB. She is now 7-for-7, with $412,100 in earnings. She paid $2.10 to win.
Gio’s Hope, driven by Jason Bartlett, won the Big Apple final for 2-year-old male trotters.
Jordan Stratton fired aggressively from post 6 with Archon, sizzling through a sharp opening quarter of :27.2. However, Ocean Storm (Brett Beckwith) was not content to sit in the pocket. The 3-5 favorite moved to the front, pressing forward to take command before the field reached a rated half-mile in :57. Gio’s Hope came flying around the final turn as he went eyeball-to-eyeball with a stubborn Ocean Storm at the three-quarter beam in 1:25.1.
As they made the turn for home, Gio’s Hope dug deep on the rim, grinding past third-place finisher Ocean Storm at the top of the stretch to take a narrow lead. Just as Gio’s Hope cleared, second-place finisher Archon came all out after the leader, but Gio’s Hope refused to be denied, winning in a lifetime best of 1:53.1.
Gio’s Hope, a colt by Chapter Seven-Southwind Hope, picked up the victory for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables. It was his fifth career win and pushed his earnings to $296,904. He paid $6.22 to win.
Global Choice, driven by Brian Sears, won a thrilling Big Apple final for the freshman male pacers.
Leon Bailey sent Its News To Me flying from post 8 to seize the lead through a blazing :25.4 opening quarter. Rowdy Station (Brett Beckwith) settled directly behind him in the pocket. Bailey tapped the brakes slightly in the second quarter, leading the field through a :55 half. Rose Run Cowboy (Jason Barlett) came first-up to challenge heading around the final turn and was nose in front at three-quarters in 1:22.4.
As they reached the stretch, Global Choice came charging like a freight train, battling second-place finisher Its News To Me all the way down the stretch. He got up in time to win by a nose in a lifetime best of 1:50.2. Rowdy Station finished third.
Global Choice is a colt by Courtly Choice-Peak Of Chic. He is owned by Gino Toscani and trained by Gary Merner Jr. It was his third career win and pushed his earnings to $250,986. He paid $2.76 to win.
Leon Bailey drove five winners on the 14-race card.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (Oct. 10) with a post time of 5:05 p.m. (EDT).
For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.