Kindergarten Classic series contested at Vernon

Vernon, NY — Upfront Pattys Boy and Full Tank earned top honors in $10,000 divisions of the Kindergarten Classic trotting series, while Butterscotch Swirl moved back to the top of the Open ranks for diagonally gaited performers during Friday night’s 11-race program at Vernon Downs.

In the opening Kindergarten division for 2-year-old male high-steppers, the favorite Upfront Pattys Boy ($3.30) took the lead following a :28 second opening quarter, and stayed in charge throughout the remainder of the 1:59.2 mile, recording a fresh speed mark and his second score in five lifetime starts. Bruce Clarke drove for trainer Mark Ford as the bold-going bay son of Windsong’s Legacy-Ebba Hanover increased his freshman winnings to $23,132 for owner C. Ed Mullinax.

Fotowon photo

Full Tank was a 2:00 winner at Vernon for Jimmy Whittemore.

Full Tank, racing as the crowd’s choice in the frosh filly flight, also used front-striding tactics, churning out splits of :28.2, 1:00.3 and 1:31.1 en route to a 2:00 triumph for driver Jimmy Whittemore, trainer Bob Bencal and the Little E LLC stable. The slick striding bay daughter of Muscles Yankee-Arenal paid $2.60 to win after recording her maiden victory. She also sports a third-place finish in three lifetime starts.

Butterscotch Swirl, who last reigned as queen of Vernon’s Open trotting ranks back in mid-July, led from start to finish in Friday’s $9,000 sixth session, producing a 1:55.3 tally and his fifth season’s score. Competing as the third wagering selection, the 6-year-old gelded son of Credit Winner-Flavorofthemonth paid $10.80 to win after defeating the second pick, New Hampshire Boy, by a half-length. Bill Bailey did the steering for trainer Dave Dewhurst and owners Regina Dewhurst (Dave’s wife) and Dominick Schillace.

Whittemore, the meet’s top dash-winning reinsman after 57 programs, chalked up three wins during the evening, while drivers Howard Okusko, Jr. and Claude Huckabone, Jr., as well as trainer Lonny Hale, were each credited with a pair of first-place finishes.

— Jim Moran

Coppola wins six straight at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — It was another historic feat in a two season span of historic feats at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway for driver Frank Coppola, Jr.

Dave Oxford photo

Frank Coppola, Jr. won the Open Trot with Prime Interest, one of his six consecutive wins.

Coppola, who came out of retirement to drive again full time in 2007, rattled off an unprecedented streak on a nice summer night at the Spa. Coppola won six consecutive races in the middle of the night’s 13-race program including a sweep of the late pick three and a victory in the evening’s feature, the Open Trot.

Coppola secured five of his six wins behind trotters on Friday night and wired the Open Trot field with Prime Interest, last year’s Horse of the Year.

Coppola etched his name in the history books in 2008 with an eight-win day on a fall Sunday afternoon, the most wins on any program in track history. Coppola also set the mark for most wins in a season last year with his incredible 321 victory campaign.

— Mike Sardella

Jack Sparrow wins another Batavia feature

Batavia, NY — For the second time this season the popular square-gaiter Jack Sparrow was victorious in the featured trot of the week at Batavia Downs Casino.

Paul White photo

Jack Sparrow was a 1:59 winner in the Batavia feature.

Leaving from post five in the field of six, trainer/driver Jim McNeight was able to fire “Jack” out to command after an eighth of a mile but that was short lived as last week’s Open handicap winner, Australian Stock (Kevin Cummings), was up to challenge and took over the lead as the field raced to the opening quarter in :29.

Once seating arrangements were complete McNeight moved “Jack” back to the front as they trotted around the paddock turn the first time. Trotting to the half in :59.3 and three-quarters in 1:29.4, Jack Sparrow had plenty left in the tank down the lane to win by a comfortable 1-1/2 lengths in 1:59, despite racing with broken equipment. Australian Stock held on to the place spot while Zapphappy Kash, with Hall of Fame driver Clint Galbraith, got up for third.

Michael Calimeri owns Jack Sparrow, a 6-year-old altered son of Humorous Harry. The victory was the 40th of his career and raised his lifetime earnings to over $210,000. He returned $3.90 to win.

Dash leading driver Kevin Cummings scored a hat trick on the Friday night 12-race program while Tom Agosti and Robert Verney had driving doubles. Trainers Cliff Keene and Bob Gruber III conditioned a pair of winners each. The Lisa Lederhouse stable had another winner and is off to a blazing start at the 2009 Summer-Fall meet, currently winning at over 33 percent.

— Todd Haight