Trio of Open Paces highlight Vernon card
April 29, 2007,by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs
VERNON, NY — Chianaglia, South Park Kid and Don’t Be Skeerd captured Open class pacing confrontations during a rainy Saturday night (April 28) at Vernon Downs.
Martha Richardson’s Chianaglia came up with a personal best 1:53.4 performance to take the $8,500 Open-1 class; Rocco Vinci’s South Park Kid crafted a career fastest 1:52.2 mile to take the $7,700 Open-2 test, while Don’t Be Skeerd, shared in ownership by Anthony J. Farina, Bernard Colonna and trainer Dave Dewhurst, secured a 1:54.3 record in the Open-3 showdown.
With Jimmy Whittemore driving for his dad, trainer Dennis Whittemore, Chianaglia raced on the front end throughout the 10th event and held off the favorite, Yankee Arnie, by a nose to reign supreme in the week’s top-flight pacing contest. The hard-fought decision gives the 5-year-old horse a 3-2-1 on-the-board summary line and earnings of $16,480 after 10 current appearances.
Vinci did the teaming as South Park Kid posted the fastest mile of the seven-night meet with his front-striding neck verdict over the pocket sitting Kyrios N in the night’s fifth race. In becoming the track’s initial three-time winner of 2007, the 6-year-old gelding secured his third tally in six current showings and lifted his current winnings to $8,474.
DOWNS DOINGS—In posting a 1:55.4 tally behind the pacer Whitaker Blue Chip in Saturday’s third race, Howard Okusko, Jr. became Vernon’s all-time leader for driving victories in 2:00 or faster.