by Nick Salvi, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The Grand Circuit’s W. N. Reynolds Memorial stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and fillies swings into town on Thursday evening (Sept. 5) at Vernon Downs, with four divisions, racing for total purses of nearly $150,000.

The fillies split into a pair of sixes, each for $33,000, and Chivaree Hanover is 9-5 on the morning line for Canadian connections in the second race. Gregg McNair owns and trains the Muscle Hill-Celebrity Nike lass who broke her maiden in 1:59.4 at Mohawk and followed that effort with an impressive second in the Champlain, trotting her mile in 1:56.2 on that occasion. Rick Zeron is in town and catches the drive on this nice filly.

A Perfect Gem has the favorite’s role in division two (race five) for owners Paymaq Racing, Louis Willinger and Daniel Plouffe. She’s a sharp Yankee Glide-Asixpakfromperfect filly who hasn’t missed the board in eight starts while amassing nearly $125,000 in earnings and posting a snazzy 1:55.3 record in Pennsylvania stakes. The father/son team of Erv and Marcus Miller will handle the training and driving duties, respectively.

The colt races are the seventh and ninth on the card with Exodus Hanover the choice in the $39,100 first division on the strength of five wins in seven outings. The Andover Hall-Exotic Destination colt has picked up more than $100,000 this season for trainer Steve Elliott and his partners, the Angelso Frassetto Estate, Old Block Stables and Kenneth Klein. Regular driver Andy Miller is aboard for the Reynolds.

Division two for a purse of $39,500 is a powerful field of eight that includes Resolve, a sharp looking Muscle Hill-Anikawiesahalee colt with local ties. Bred and owned by Michael and William Pozefsky along with Edward Wilson, he is the first foal of their mare Anikawiesahalee, a stakes winner for the long time Vernon patrons. Though the ownership group has had their share of success over the seasons, Resolve has the look of the one they’ve been waiting for. He won a division of the Kindergarten at Tioga Downs in 1:55.2 for trainer/driver Roman Lopez and will face a stern test from post eight on Thursday.

Post time is 6:45 p.m. on Thursday and you may find even more interesting information on Vernon Downs racing by visiting the track website.