Vernon, N.Y. — Harness racing drivers Truman Gale and Claude Huckabone, III each registered a treble on Wednesday (October 21) evening's nine-race program at Vernon Downs, with Gale capturing the featured $5,500 conditioned distaff pace as well.
Gale kicked off his hat trick in the featured event, sustaining a first-over bid with Tiger Boudoir ($12.40) off the far turn en route to a narrow half-length victory over pocket rival Table Games (John MacDonald) in 1:52.4. Gale also trains the 5-year-old Western Terror mare for Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell.
The "New York Night Train" went on to take the evening's fifth event, also prevailing in first-over fashion. Cool Vicious ($3.40) prevailed at odds-on over 17-1 pacesetter Megaparfaite (MacDonald), just capturing the lead in the final yards of a 1:56 mile after dueling the length of the stretch. Trainer/driver Gale shares ownership of Cool Vicious with his wife Jocelyn.
The seventh race saw Gale team up with trainer Robert Gale and another odds-on favourite in E R Rhonda ($3.20). The 4-year-old kicked out from the pocket while exiting the far turn, edging clear for a 2-1/2 length victory over Make Magic (Huckabone, III) in 1:54.
Gale would be matched in his efforts on the night, as Claude Huckabone, III registered three wins of his own. His first came in the evening's third race, where he gave 1.2-1 favourite Summer Snow ($4.40) a second-over trip behind Drinkin N Dancin (Chris Lems), kicking cover at head-stretch to push clear of Escada de Vie (Jimmy Whittemore) in 1:52.4.
"Huck Three" then went on to sweep the late double, scoring a pillar-to-post 1:55.1 win with Polished Perfection ($13.20) in the eighth and vaulting off cover with 2.2-1 favourite Aritzia Hanover ($6.40) for a 1:54.1 triumph in the last.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (October 23) evening, with the first of 12 races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs