by Nick Salvi, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The Kindergarten Trotting Classic series, a Grand Circuit event for freshman fillies and colts, comes to a conclusion with the rich finals on Halloween night (Saturday, Oct. 31) at Vernon Downs.

The card will also include the annual “Turn Back The Clock” pace and trot where the horses race one circuit of the track clockwise and the “Four One One” race for greys.

There is a special 6 p.m. post time on Saturday.

The Kindergarten colts come up first in race eight with a with a very competitive field of nine going for a purse of $191,500. Trainer Staffan Lind holds a strong hand, sending the uncoupled entry of series point leader Hollywood Highway and the emerging talent Celebrity Express into the fray.

With the top point earners assured a draw between posts one and six by series conditions, Hollywood Highway drew four. He clearly found The Red Mile to his liking, arriving in Kentucky a lightly raced maiden and leaving a Grand Circuit stakes winner with a 1:54.2 mark. He also won a pair of Kindergarten legs there for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld who also bred the son of Muscle Massive-L A Freeway. Tim Tetrick drove Hollywood Highway to his record mile and chose to stick with him for the final.

Celebrity Express (post seven) also came of age in Lexington when paired with driver John Campbell, scoring a late-closer win followed by a solid third in a division of the International Stallion Stakes. The Andover Hall-D Train brother to Donato Hanover could make a significant dent in his $200,000 yearling purchase price with a good result here for owner Celebrity Farms.

Jimmy Takter, who shattered records with his fantastic Breeders Crown tour de force last week, has the power in the $174,500 Kindergarten filly final, race nine on the program.

The Takter coupled entry is led by series point leader Haughty who starts from the rail. The Donato Hanover-Letsjustalkaboutme lass is a three-time Kindergarten leg winner who finished second in last week’s Breeders Crown, the only blemish on her freshman slate. Haughty won a Kindergarten split in 1:54.1 in Kentucky then captured an International Stallion Stakes division in advance of her Crown showing. Dave Palone has been the filly’s regular pilot and is in to drive for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.

Hollywood Hill (post two) is the Takter entry-mate here. She has been a model of consistency while winning three of 10 seasonal outings for owner/breeder Goran Falk and his partner Christina Takter. John Campbell has the drive on Saturday.

Further information on Saturday’s races are available by visiting the Vernon Downs website.