by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs
Nichols, NY — The $164,000 Muscle Hill open mare trot and its counterpart, the $218,000 Credit Winner open trot lead a nine race card set to go to the post at Vernon Downs on Friday, September 2 at 6:55 pm.
San Pail, fresh off back to back victories in the Maple Leaf Trot and Nat Ray has drawn post position number two against a field of eight in race number eight. Randy Waples, who regularly pilots San Pail will once again be in the sulky to guide the winner of more than $2.3 million lifetime for trainer Rodney Hughes. Some of his main threats in the field are Il Villaggio and Jody Jamieson who recently won at Indiana Downs in 1:53, also Lucky Jim will look to become a repeat winner of the event after setting the stakes record of 1:52 last year. Lucky Jim has drawn post position number eight, and will be handled for the very first time by Tim Tetrick for trainer Erv Miller.
In the Muscle Hill, Buck I St Pat has been dubbed the 5-2 morning line favorite coming off a two length victory in a $100,000 Open trot at Chester Downs.
The 8-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jessie–Name It Something has made in excess of $2.3 million lifetime and won the Muscle Hill event in 2009. Her main competition will come to her inside, post two, Jersey As, who posted a mild upset on Hambletonian Day in the Matchmaker beating Buck I St Pat in 1:51.3. Action Broadway will also look to knock off the queen of the trotting ranks leaving from post position number one. Brian Sears will drive the Armbro Flight champion, who upset in Canada at odds of 27-1 for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
Defending Muscle Hill Champion, Yursa Hanover, will look to be the first repeat performer ever in the event and has drawn post eight, with hall of famer, John Campbell in the sulky.
Also on tap for Friday night at Vernon Downs will be the 2-year-old Historic Series races.