Natameri finds another gear in Open

Natameri (American Ideal) and driver John MacDonald captured the harness racing featured $8,500 Open 1 Pace at Vernon Downs on Saturday (April 29).

Odds On Brexit (Barton Dalious) went straight to the front and led to the quarter in :27.  He used a :29.2 second quarter to be first to the half in :56.2.  Natameri ($2.50) made his move first-up from third as they entered the final turn.  He was first to three-quarters in 1:24.3.

As they made the turn for home, he found another gear and won easily in 1:52.3.  Odds On Brexit held on for second.  Major Leaguer (Jimmy Whittemore) finished third.

Natameri is 5-year-old horse owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by Jessica Okusko.  He is one for one this season and now has 15 career victories.

NATAMERI REPLAY

MacDonald and Dalious each drove three winners on the card.  Okusko and Marissa Chadbourne each had driving doubles.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (May 5).

For more information, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs