by John Horne, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory) won a leg of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Vernon Downs on Thursday (Aug. 10) for a purse of $117,600.

It was the start of corntastic weekend at the Miracle Mile with free corn.

Fotowon photo

Barn Bella was a 1:53.2 winner in NYSS action on Thursday.

Celebrity Ruth (Jason Bartlett) would charge out to the early lead, but Barn Bella (Conway Hall) wouldn’t wait and took over before the quarter. Owned by the Purple Haze Stables with Nancy and trainer Steven Pratt, she would control all the fractions of :27, :56.2, 1:26, and 1:53.2. Celebrity Ruth (Archangel) would follow and stay close.

Once they got to the top of the stretch Celebrity Ruth would attempt to make a run at Barn Bella ($2.30), but the filly put it in another gear and would win in the end by two lengths. Amber Ella (Jim Marohn Jr.) would finish third.

Barn Bella has now won 10 of her 11 starts as a sophomore. Her last time at Vernon Downs she won the Empire Breeders Classic. She has now captured five legs of the NYSS. Her only blemish was a fourth place finish at Buffalo in a NYSS event after going on a break.

Jimmy Whittemore won three races on the card. He won with Hustleonhome ($13.60), Northern BB ($8.20), and Love Live Laugh ($8.10).

Racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (Aug. 11) with a 10-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. Corntastic weekend continues at the Miracle Mile on both Friday and Saturday.