Vernon, N.Y. — Fresh off a track-record performance at Tioga Downs in last week's Geers Stakes, Cougar Bait ($5.00, part of entry) proved dominant in Friday (August 19) evening's lone $10,000 Kindergarten Classic preliminary for harness racing 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carded as race two at Vernon Downs
Marcus Miller brushed the Western Terror-No One Is Alone gelding to the fore after a :27.2 first quarter before rating a :57.3 middle half. Upon turning for home, Cougar Bait felt mild pressure from 3-5 favorite Lindythefourteenth (Scott Zeron), edging clear easily off the corner–Lindythefourteenth broke stride only after he began to regress. Meanwhile, Cougar Bait drew off by 4-3/4 lengths over his stablemate Harry Terror (Andy McCarthy), who rallied belatedly to take second from Manattack (Chris Lems). The 1:51.4 mile time gave Cougar Bait a new lifetime mark in his third consecutive win.
John Butenschoen trains Cougar Bait for the Harmony Oaks Racing Stable, Inc., Jeremey Day, Tangie Massey, and the VIP Internet Stable, LLC.
Miller scored a stakes double at the Miracle Mile, making gradual gains with Ameraway ($3.90, part of entry) through the stretch en route to a 1:53 win over Well What's New (Zeron) and V String (McCarthy) in the tenth event, a Kindergarten preliminary for pacing fillies. Trainer Erv Miller co-owns the daughter of American Ideal and Shyaway with Paymaq Racing, the aforementioned Tangie Massey, and Neil Cumsky.
The earlier Kindergarten split for fillies, carded as race six, saw Caviart Ally ($3.80, part of entry) make all the pace and accelerate through the far turn for a 1:53.2 score over pocket rival Someonesomewhere (Miller) and the belatedly-gaining Jenny's Terror (Fern Paquet, Jr.). Andy McCarthy drove the daughter of Bettor's Delight and Allamerican Cool for trainer Noel Daley and owner Caviart Farms.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (August 20) evening; post time is set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs