$375,000 Empire Breeders Classic held at Vernon

Joviality S (Chapter Seven) and Justice (Chapter Seven) captured the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) races at Vernon Downs on Friday (June 17).

Joviality S ($2.10) simply dominates the $187,500 EBC for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy) went to the front and led to the quarter in :27.  Joviality S and driver Brian Sears made their move as they headed to the backstretch going first-up and taking control just before hitting the half in :55.4.  She glided to three-quarters in 1:23.1.

As they made the turn for home Joviality S just took off.  Bare My Soul (Scott Zeron) started moving up late but she could only watch as Joviality S won in a lifetime mark of 1:51.0.  She was just two-fifths off the track record set by Atlanta.  Bare My Soul had to settle for second money as Valentina Blu held on to finish third.

JOVIALITY S REPLAY

Joviality S is owned by Courant Inc., and trained by Marcus Melander.  She is three for three in 2022.  She has now won 12 times in 15 career starts.  With the win she surpassed the million-dollar mark in career earnings,

Justice ($10.60) throttles late to win in the $187,500 EBC for sophomore trotting colts and geldings.

Slay (Tim Tetrick) was able to get by Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) just before hitting the first quarter in :27.3.  He used a :28.3 second quarter to be first to the half in :56.1.  Justice came first-over from fourth and battled neck and neck with Slay all around the final turn.  Slay was first to three-quarter in 1:24.3.

As they reached the stretch Justice wrestled the lead away.  Branded By Lindy was locked in the box and needed racing room badly.  Cool Papa Bell (Brian Sears) came flying late on the outside as Branded By Lindy finally squeezed inside for an opening but it was too late as Justice prevailed in 1:53.3.  Branded by Lindy finished second as Cool Papa Bell had to settle for third.

JUSTICE REPLAY

Justice is owned by Little E LLC., Torbjorn Swahn, Myfab Stables Inc., and trainer Ake Svanstedt.  It was his second win this season.  He now has five career victories.

Gotthegreenlight (American Ideal, Jason Bartlett) and A Girl That Twirls (American Ideal, Brian Sears) got New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) wins.

Gotthegreenlight ($3.70) is a gate-to-wire winner in the $60,300 NYSS first division for 3-year-old pacing fillies stopping the clock at 1:51.3.  Patsville(Tyler Buter) finished second as Kele Kele (Mark MacDonald) took home third money.

Gotthegreenlight is a 3-year-old filly.  She is trained by R. Nifty Norman for owners Patricia Stable and Kovach Stables.  It was her second win this season.  She now has 10 career victories.

GOTTHEGREENLIGHT REPLAY

A Girl That Twirls ($16.40) comes flying late to win the NYSS second division in a lifetime best of 1:52.0.  Lee Loo (Tim Tetrick) was second best as Valar Dohaeris (Ake Svanstedt) finished third.

A Girl That Twirls is a 3-year-old filly.  She is owned by D racing Stable and trained by Deborah Daguet.  She is now three for three in 2022.  She now has seven career victories.

A GIRL THAT TWIRLS REPLAY

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (June 18).  Post time for the 9-race card is 6:05 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs