Vernon, N.Y. — Parkhill Horton ($17.00) used a quick turn of foot off the far turn to seize command from odds-on harness racing favorite Twice Too Nice in Friday (August 5) evening's featured $7,500 Miracle Mile Trot at Vernon Downs.
The 8-year-old Oaklea Julian gelding floated into third in the initial stages, enjoying a cozy tracking trip behind Twice Too Nice (John MacDonald) and My Lucky Word (Jimmy Whittemore) through splits of :28, :57.4, and 1:26.2. On approach to the head of the home straight, Claude Huckabone, III angled Parkhill Horton off the pegs, and he quickly pushed clear of the pacesetting Twice Too Nice–but he wasn't home free. My Lucky Word hooked three-wide out of the pocket at the eighth pole to give chase, but Parkhill Horton responded to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. My Lucky Word was a strongly chasing runner-up, while Twice Too Nice faded to third.
Trainer Robert Gale shares ownership of Parkhill Horton with Jeffrey Agan and David Adsit.
In the $4,000 "Dashtonian", a hybrid conditioned/starter allowance half-mile sprint for pacers, Bubba Zanetti vaulted to a clear lead through a :25.2 first quarter, but ultimately was collared in the final 40 yards by odds-on favorite Ring Leda ($3.30), who sustained a three-wide push off the far turn to prevail by three-quarters of a length. John MacDonald drove the 6-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding to a :54.3 victory for trainer Eric Felter.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (August 6) evening, with a pair of $55,500 New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old pacing fillies taking center stage on the 13-race card. The undefeated Planet Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven-Villa Hanover) seeks her fourth career win in as many starts for trainer Linda Toscano in the evening's tenth event. First post is slated for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs