by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Dan Patch Award winner Buck I St Pat will lead eight rivals into battle on Friday night (Sept. 10) at Vernon Downs in the $150,000 Conway Hall for trotting mares.

Fotowon photo

Buck I St Pat was a 1:54.3 winner in the 2009 Conway Hall at Vernon.

The 7-year-old sensation will look to repeat in the Conway Hall as she captured the 2009 edition in track record time (1:54.3) for older trotting mares. Campaigned from the Ron Burke Stable, Buck I St Pat will be part of an entry with Southwind Wasabi, who captured the third leg of the Miss Versatility Trotting Series at Vernon on September 2 in track record time (1:53) for 4-year old trotting mares.

Burke has listed usual pilot Tim Tetrick on Buck I St Pat and will turn the lines back to Josh Marks who steered Southwind Wasabi to her last win at Vernon Downs.

The duo has been listed as the 7-5 morning line choice, but also drew the seven and eight hole in a field of eight.

The $150,000 Conway Hall has been slated for race number six on Friday night’s card that kicks off at 6:55 p.m.

The field is listed below:

HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-7-Southwind Wasabi-Josh Marks-Ron Burke
1A-8-Buck I St Pat-Tim Tetrick-Ron Burke
2-1-Broadway Paige-Jimmy Whittemore-Angus MacDonald
3-2-Windsong Soprano-Andy Miller-Robert McIntosh
4-3-Elusive Desire-Trond Smedshammer-Michael Keeling
5-4-Yursa Hanover-Daniel Dube-Benoit Baillargeon
6-5-Autumn Escapade-David Miller-Jonas Czernyson
7-6-Highscore Kemp-Frank Antonacci-Frank Antonacci

Also featured on Friday night’s undercard will be six divisions of the Kindergarten Classic Trot, three for colts and geldings and three for fillies.

Leading the way in the colt division is Swan In A Million from super producer broodmare Swan Lake for trainer Erv Miller.

In the Miracle Mile 1 top trotting test, world champion Enough Talk will make his return to the racetrack for trainer-driver Peter Kleinhans, coming off a break in the Ricci Memorial on August 14.

Post time is 6:55 p.m.

For more information visit www.vernondowns.com.