by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga and Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Vernon will host the finals of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old New York bred trotters on Monday, May 26, with a post time of 1:15 p.m.

The $237,675 final for 3-year-old trotting fillies has been slated as race six on the afternoon’s nine-race card. Creamy Mimi has been made the 5-2 morning line favorite for driver Jim Morrill, Jr. and trainer Trond Smedshammer. The Conway Hall filly won her elimination by more than four lengths in 1:57.4 for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Ray Schnittker and Epangeline have been selected as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The Conway Hall filly finished second to Nirvana Blue Chip in her elimination after coming first-over from fifth. Epangeline will start from post position five.

The field of nine New York bred trotting fillies are represented by four Conway Hall fillies, three Credit Winner fillies, one Malabar Man foal, and one Giant Hit filly.

Here is the field for the $237,675 final for the 3-year-old trotting fillies:

HN-PP-ML-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-4-9-2-Nirvana Blue Chip-Mike Simons-Jim Raymer
1A-7-9-2-Happy Ticket-Jim Raymer-Jim Raymer
2-1-8-1-Pose For Me-Ron Pierce-Chuck Connor, Jr.
3-2-6-1-Susan XYZ-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer
4-3-5-2-Creamy Mimi-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Trond Smedshammer
5-5-7-2-Epangeline-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
6-6-8-1-Princessofhollywd-Stephane Bouchard-Linda Toscano
7-8-10-1 RC Biscuit-Howard Okusko, Jr.-George Ducharme
8-9-12-1-American Pride-Jeff Bolyard-Jeff Bolyard

In the $232,375 final of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, Big Apple Deli has been given the edge as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The Conway Hall son will be steered by Stephane Bouchard for trainer John Simpson, Jr. Lon Frocione owns the colt, who is a perfect three-for-three thus far in 2008 and won his elimination in a lifetime best 1:56.

Some of his main competition will come from Ace High Hall and Jim Morrill, Jr. out of the powerful Mark Ford stable, and Dexter Cup champ Holiday Credit, with Ron Pierce for top trainer Jimmy Takter.

The field of nine New York bred trotters are represented by six foals from Conway Hall, two foals of Credit Winner, and one Dilbert Hanover foal.

Here is the field for the $232,375 final of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters:

HN-PP-ML-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-3-9-2-Make It Happen-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
1A-5-9-2-They Took The Bar-Howard Okusko. Jr.-Ray Schnittker
2-1-6-1-Holiday Credit-Ron Pierce-Jimmy Takter
3-2-10-1-DW’S Spitfire-Dan Daley-Dan Daley
4-4-5-2-Big Apple Deli-Stephane Bouchard-John Simpson, Jr.
5-6-8-1-Credit Press-Jimmy Whittemore-Larry Remmen
6-7-7-2-Ace High Hall-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Mark Ford
7-8-8-1-Yewish Boko-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer
8-9-12-1-Velocity Hall-Brian Allen-Jonas Czernyson

Vernon will also host a free horsemen’s barbeque following the races on Monday afternoon in Founder’s Park directly outside the main grandstand entrance. The barbeque is for trainers, drivers, and owners of horses in the Empire Breeders Classic, along with all horsemen that participate at Vernon Downs.

Vernon Downs would like to thank its sponsors — Allerage Farms, Brittany Farms, Fashion Farms, Hanover Shoe Farms, Hempt Farms, Perretti Farms, and Lindy Farms.

For more information on all of Vernon’s feature races, promotions, and entertainment events please visit us on our Web site at www.vernondowns.com.