Bay Of Sharks equals record in Vernon feature

Bay Of Sharks equaled the Vernon Downs record for 4-year-old pacing horses with his 1:50.2 clocking after winning Saturday night’s $9,000 featured sixth race.

 

With dash-driving leader Josh Marks at the controls, Bay Of Sharks went right to the front from the outside five post and cut fractions of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:23.1 en route to a two-length triumph over last week’s winner in the Class A Miracle Mile contest, Stettin Hanover. Mystical Valentine finished third.

 

Saturday’s speedy score came in the first season’s start for the bay son of Cam’s Card Shark-Whitley Bay, who is trained by Tracy Brainard and owned by Michael and Sam Sergi. The time stands as the fastest mile of six-night-old meet, and it tied the track record for this age, sex and gait that was set by Riggins in August of 2009.

 

Holly Cordisco’s steady-going sidewheeler Pickmeamerigold became the season’s initial three time winner with a 1:53 tally in Saturday’s $3,700 10th event. Howard Okusko, Jr. did the catch-driving for trainer Joe Cordisco as the 4-year-old daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Whip City Gal secured her fourth victory in 15 current outings.

 

Marks, who has earned 18 first-place finishes in the six programs conducted here to date, posted three Saturday scores, as did Okusko, while defending dash champ Jimmy Whittemore chalked up a pair of victories during the 11-race card. (Vernon)