The 6-year-old Plesac mare secured the pocket behind Sweet Thing (Chris Lems) from race's outset, tracking a sensible :56.1 first half mile before ceding second to the first-over McKenzie's Star (Fern Paquet, Jr.). Painite stalked a :28.4 third-quarter duel, ultimately making her move in mid-stretch after McKenzie's Star tired from her two-wide press. Painite pounced late on the softened Sweet Thing, edging clear by 1-1/2 lengths in a 1:55 score. McKenzie's Star faded to third, and Leah's Ex (Jimmy Whittemore) rounded out the scratch-reduced field of four.
Trainer Truman Gale handled the driving duties aboard Painite.
The evening's final three races–including a $10,000 Open Trot–were abandoned due to the Central New York weather taking a sudden turn for the worse after the seventh race was completed. Live racing returns on Sunday (May 31) afternoon, with post time slated for 1:15 p.m.
by James Witherite, Vernon Downs
