Vernon, N.Y. — Taking advantage of a pocket trip off a pressured third quarter, Hold On Tightly ($12.60) slid through an opening at the pegs to just take Friday (September 25) evening's harness racing featured $7,000 upper-level conditioned trot at Vernon Downs.
Greg Merton left with the 6-year-old Cash Hall gelding and was able to duck into the pocket to track pacesetter Keystone Thomas (Fern Paquet, Jr.) through a :28.1 initial quarter. On the backstretch, Keystone Thomas faced pressure from the first-over Yankee Manny (Chris Lems), and the latter would go on to force a :28.3 third quarter while gaining to within half a length.
As the pace picked up, Hold On Tightly found himself boxed by A Lister (John MacDonald) on approach to the top of the stretch, and Fleetwood Hall (Roman Lopez) was gearing up for a four-wide stretch bid. Keystone Thomas eventually dismissed Yankee Manny in upper stretch, but was engulfed in the final yards not only by Fleetwood Hall, but also by Hold On Tightly, who found a seam up the inside to just prevail in 1:55.4. Runner-up Fleetwood Hall just missed by a nose, while Keystone Thomas checked in a gamely beaten third.
Edgar "Sparky" Clarke trains Hold On Tightly for Timothy Lopez.
Chris Lems led all drivers with three wins on the 11-race program.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (September 26) evening, with the first of 11 races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs