High Speed Life wins Thursday feature at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — High Speed Life scored in her local debut in Thursday’s $18,500 feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Dave Oxford photo

High Speed Life was a 1:53.1 winner for driver Stephane Bouchard.

The Roman Lopez trained mare came in from Vernon Downs where she has been a threat in the Fillies and Mares Open all year long to compete in the local Open for distaff pacers.

High Speed Life (Lease On Life) left quickly and was bypassed early on by Up Front Kellie Jo (Billy Dobson) in an opening quarter in a sizzling :26.2. The fractions remained quick and High Speed Life surged up the passing lane for the feature score in 1:53.1.

Stephane Bouchard piloted the 6-year-old mare for Lopez.

Island Terror (Mark Beckwith) was the runner-up for the second straight week while Up Front Kellie Jo held third.

Live racing continues on Friday night at the Spa with a first post time of 7:20 p.m.

— Mike Sardella

Vernon Downs
Southwest closed from east to west before capturing Thursday night’s $8,400 featured 11th event at Vernon Downs. Competing in a small, but select field of five, whittled down by three scratches, Southwest ($6.40) drafted along behind the pace-setting Harlem Rockturne through three-quarters in 1:24.4. With both Elleofnxample and Bay Girl closing rapidly on the outside, Southwest used the inside pylon-path route and displayed the most foot in the final sixteenth (last quarter in :27.2) to score in 1:52.2, tying her career win-mark. Trainer Roman Lopez, who owns Southwest along with Mitchell Frair, did the teaming as the 4-year-old daughter of Western Hanover-Matt’s A Coming earned her third local triumph, seventh season’s score and 15th lifetime victory, while hiking her career winnings to more than $120,900. Lopez, who has logged 37 driving victories and 17 training tallies after 58 Vernon programs, also finished first with the Serge Beaumont-owned trotter Nanticoke Snazz in Thursday’s seventh race to record his fifth double of the meet. Leading reinsman Rick Plano posted three wins during Thursday’s 12-race card, while driver Brian Connor and trainer Edgar Clarke each visited Vernon’s winner’s circle on two occasions.

Scioto Downs
Chuzzle moved decisively in the third quarter to seize command of the featured trot at Scioto Downs on Thursday and never looked back, winning by two lengths in 1:56.1 for driver Russell Swartz and trainer Don Pfister. The 6-year-old daughter of Emile Angus is owned by noted Buckeye State owner Harold Breidenbach. Favored Scent Of Oil left alertly and got to the lead early for driver Ray Paver with an opening panel in :28 and then eased through a second quarter in :30.1. It wasn’t long before Swartz had Chuzzle on the move down the backstretch and she went after the leader with alacrity. Chuzzle was in front by the three-quarters and put her pursuers behind her as she eased to the wire after opening up a four length lead. Arianna Hall got up for second for driver J.D. Wengerd while American Journey was third for driver Kayne Kauffman. Scent Of Oil faded to finish seventh but was placed sixth. Paver scored a fast trotting victory two races later when R E Shawn led all the way to win in 1:56.4 by more than five lengths for owner-trainer Paul Russell.