Vernon, NY – I Love My Country and Claude Huckabone III captured the $6,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday (Nov. 5).

I Love My Country and Claude Huckabone III crossed the wire first in the $6,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday (Nov. 5). Fotowon Photo.

Bet Big On Blue (Justin Huckabone) was first to the quarter in :27.3.  I Love My Country ($4) made his move first-up down the backstretch as Bet Big On Blue led to the half in :57.4.   I Love My Country took over heading to the final turn cruising to three-quarters in 1:27.

As they made the turn for home, it was all I Love My Country taking the feature with ease by 3-1/2 lenghts in 1:56.2.  Bet Big On Blue held for second as Bluffton (Chris Long) came up to get third.

I Love My Country is a 3-year-gelding by Credit Winner.  He is owned by James Crawford IV and trained by Huckabone III,  It was his fourth win this season and fifth career victory.  Crawford IV and Huckabone III had also combined to win in the third race with Miss Cleopatrick ($4.10).

Vernon Downs says goodbye to A Lister, Photo Master, Frisky Joe, and Love Live Laugh

A Lister was the first of four horses retired on Friday.  He is a 14-year-old gelding by Hard Rock N Roll.  The trotter is owned by J Sansone Racing Stable and trained by Joe Sansone.  He had 37 wins in 382 lifetime starts with nearly $350,000 in career earnings.

Photo Master is a 14-year-old gelding by S J’s Photo.  He is owned by Jessie Ray and trained by Steven Ray.  He finished second in his last start at Vernon Friday night.  He has 51 wins in 383 and $221,247 in career purses.

Frisky Joe is a 14-year-old gelding by Frisky Fighter.  He ended his career with 45 wins in 299 starts.  The crowd favorite has raced every season of his career at Vernon Downs.  The gelding is owned by Morgan Carney and trained by Peter Carney.  He won over $187,360 in his career.

Love Live Laugh is a 11-year-old mare by Hi Ho Silverheel’s.  The pacer is owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Melissa Chadbourne.  Another fan favorite, she won 52 times in 277 career starts.  She is going spend her retirement at the Purple Haze Standardbred adoption center in Oxford, NY.  She won nearly $300,000 in her career.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing for closing night of the 2021 season on Saturday (Nov. 6) with a 10-race card starting at 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.