Barn Doll, Crazy Wow dominate in Vernon EBC events
June 21, 2015,by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media
Vernon, NY — Both brushing to the fore and opening up at will on their respective rivals, Barn Doll ($2.70) and Crazy Wow ($2.30, part of entry) proved dominant in a pair of Empire Breeders Classic events for New York-sired 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21) afternoon at Vernon Downs.
Barn Doll won the $248,275 Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old trotting fillies.
The $248,275 Classic for fillies saw Zanna Blu (Yannick Gingras) stride to the early lead past her stablemate Allerage Belle (Jim Morrill Jr.), with Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory) tracking that pair comfortably through a :28 initial quarter.
Moving off the clubhouse turn, Gregory brushed to the fore with the 3-year-old Conway Hall filly, clearing Zanna Blu with no trouble before controlling a :56.2 half-mile. Barn Doll accelerated on the far turn through a :27.3 third sectional, leaving her eight rivals well in her wake after edging clear at head-stretch.
She ultimately trounced the others, winning by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1. Lock Down Lindy (Tim Tetrick) rallied down the center of the track to take second, while Jewels In Hock (John Cambell) kicked cover off the far turn to finish third.
Trainer Steven Pratt co-owns Barn Doll with Nancy Pratt and the Purple Haze Stables, LLC.
An overflow field of 11 3-year-old colts and geldings contested a $255,325 Classic event, with Crazy Wow overcoming a second-row start to obliterate his competition — and the previous track record for sophomore geldings.
Yannick Gingras floated Crazy Wow second-over to follow entrymate Habitat (Jim Morrill Jr.) to a :26.4 first quarter, continuing on without cover to clear the lead upon exiting the clubhouse turn.
The Crazed gelding posted a :56.4 middle half and then edged clear of his entrymate in upper stretch, amassing a 6-1/2 length margin of victory in 1:51.1. Habitat held second, while Fashion Creditor (David Miller) rallied from a third-over trip to take third while well detached of the Ron Burke trainees.
The Our Horse Cents Stables, the JT 45 group, and the J&T Silva Stables, LLC own Crazy Wow, who knocked 1-2/5 seconds off Gym Tan Laundry’s 1:52.3 mark for 3-year-old trotting geldings, taken in 2012.
Fireyourguns breaks his own all-age pacing record
Earlier in the 14-race program, Fireyourguns ($2.90) set blistering fractions and held sway from a late-charging JK Panache (Yannick Gingras) to take the $10,000 Open Pace in a track record 1:47.3. The 6-year-old son of American Ideal remains undefeated on the year in six starts, taking two-fifths of a second off his former mark with Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike.
Double millionaire Golden Receiver, reunited with 2011 World Driving Championship runner-up Corey Callahan, was all-out to chase the pacesetter, holding third.
Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.
NY Sire Stakes glamour boys contest four undercard events
In addition to the pair of Empire Breeders Classic events and Fireyourguns’s track record mile, 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings squared off in a quartet of New York Sire Stakes events, offering a combined purse of $122,400.
My Spirit Soars ($5.50, Jim Morrill Jr., 1:49.3), National Seelster ($8.60, Andy Miller, 1:50.2), A Bettor Hat ($7.30, Morrill, 1:51.3) and Artistic Major ($8.50, Scott Zeron, 1:50.3) proved victorious in their respective races.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (June 26) evening, with post time set for 6:45 p.m. (EDT).