Vernon, N.Y. — After she was shuffled to last on the far turn, Asset Management ($7.00) mounted a three-wide rally off the far turn, mowing down all seven of her harness racing rivals in Friday (August 7) evening's $7000 upper-level conditioned distaff pace at Vernon Downs.
The 7-year-old Western Hanover mare settled well off the pace early on, racing just worse than midfield as Anty Entity (Claude Huckabone, III) sprinted clear from the far outside to set a :27.2 first quarter before yielding to Aritzia Hanover (Truman Gale) on approach to the backstretch. As Aritzia Hanover backed the pace down through a :57 middle half, Asset Management was locked in by outer flow headed by 2-1 favourite Express Jet (John MacDonald), ultimately shuffled to last on the far turn. Fern Paquet, Jr. angled Asset Management off the pegs just before Aritzia Hanover reached three-quarters in 1:24.2, mounting a strong rally off the far turn. She would continue to overtake all of her rivals in a :27 charge home, prevailing in 1:52.3 by a scant neck over Express Jet and Aritzia Hanover.
Allie Berube trains Asset Management for J & M Racing.
Truman Gale led all drivers on the evening with three wins, prevailing with his own trainees Royal Holiday ($4.60, 2:01.1) and Crazy Over You ($11.00, 1:59.1) in addition to Gary Bryant trainee Ninepointnine ($5.00, 1:57).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs with a nine-race card on Saturday (August 8) evening. First post is 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs