The Hunt Is On wins thrilling feature

The Hunt Is On (Frank Affrunti) captures the $6,500 featured fillies & mares’ pace at Vernon Downs on Thursday (August 20).

Unusual Clarity (Ron Harp) was first to the quarter in :26.4.  She slowed things down with a :30.1 second quarter and led to the half in :57.0.  Whoa Black Betty (John MacDonald) came first-up to challenge heading around the final turn.  Unusual Clarity was first to three quarters in 1:26.4.

As they reached the stretch, third place finisher Whoa Black Betty took over the lead.  Second place finisher Girl Nellie (Joe Nassimos) came flying on the outside as The Hunt Is On ($24.14) slipped through on the inside to win by a nose in 1:55.1.

The Hunt Is On is a 7-year-old mare by Huntsville.  She is owned by Devan Flood and trained by Gary Gibson.  It was her second win this season and her 23rd career victory.

THE HUNT IS ON REPLAY

Frank Affrunti and Dylan Huckabone-Miller had driving doubles.  Jacquavyian Carter had a driver-training double.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (August 22) with a post time of 5:05 p.m.  There is no live racing at Vernon Downs on Friday (August 21) because of the Jefferson Starship concert.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Horne, for Vernon Downs