Vernon, NY – Emoticon Legacy outlasted Maryland to capture the $320,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot for sophomore trotters at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 3).
Meshuggah (Scott Zeron) was first to the quarter in :26.3. Onajetplane (Andrew McCarthy) then took over the lead heading to the backstretch. Emoticon Legacy (Louis Roy) then made his move first-up heading down the backside. He surged to the front and led to the half in :55.1. Maryland (Dexter Dunn) then made his move heading around the final turn. He went from sixth to second in a flash as Emoticon Legacy led to three-quarters in 1:24.1.
As they made the turn for home, the race was on. Second-place finisher Maryland confronted Emoticon Legacy who then found another gear and won by a length in 1:51.4. Meshuggah finished third.
Emoticon Legacy, a 3-year-old colt by Walner, paid $3.30 to win. He is owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais.
He is now three for three in 2025 with $254,940 in winnings. It was his seventh career victory in 10 starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $417,596..
Torrisi wins Zweig Memorial Trot for Fillies
Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) beat What A bid Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) in a thriller in the $135,000 Dr Harry M Zweig Memorial Fillies Trot.
Shes A Shoe In (Mark MacDonald) took the lead and led to the quarter in :26.2. Torrisi took over the lead and was followed by Voguish (Todd McCarthy) going down the backstretch. Torrisi was first to the half in :56.2 before Voguish took a short lead but went on a break. Torrisi was back in front heading to the final turn. What a Bid Hanover came first-up heading around the final turn and reached three-quarters first in 1:25.2.
Second-place finisher What A Bid Hanover and Torrisi traded blows all the way down the stretch. Torrisi dug in and used one late surge to win by a neck in a lifetime best of 1:54. My Debt Collector (Tyler Buter) finished third. Torrisi paid $24.20 to win.
Torrisi is a 3-year-old filly by Walner. She is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Caviart Farms, Pryde Stables, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman. It was her first win in three tries this year. She now has two career victories from 13 starts and $293,100 in career earnings.
Vernon also hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman pacing fillies.
Odds On Enigma charged late to capture the $55,500 first division
Miss Genie Mae (Buter) was first to the quarter in :28. Savage Cindy (Jason Bartlett) then took over command and led to the half in :56.3 and was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
As they reached the stretch, second-place finisher Miss Genie Mae came first-up to take a brief lead.
Odds On Enigma (Matt Kakaley) then came flying three-wide from fourth and went right on by winning by a neck in 1:54.2. Savage Cindy had to settle for third. Odds on Enigma paid $14.60 to win.
Odds On Enigma is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville-Yellow Diamond. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Scott Di Domenico. It was her first career start.
Odds On Monetary grabs the $56,500 second division
Odds On Monetary (Matt Kakaley) was first to the quarter in :26.3. She used a :30.1 second quarter as she led to the half in :56.4. Onaorchardhunt (Mark Hershberger) was first to make a move heading around the final turn. Odds On Monetary led to three-quarters in 1:26.2.
As they reached the stretch, Odds On Monetary widened the lead and won by a length in 1:55.1. Party Pumps (Braxten Boyd) came on late to finish second. American Cheese (Scott Zeron) finished third. Odds On Monetary paid $20.40 to win.
Odds On Monetary is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville-All On Top Hanover. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander. She also broke her maiden in her first career start.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 4) with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.