Frosh sets Vernon standard

The freshmen Kansas Wildcat, Lauren Order, Xactly Hanover and Loch Katrine all reigned as champions after the Kindergarten Classic Series finals at Vernon Downs on Thursday night.

Kansas Wildcat established a 1:53 track record for 2-year-old pacing colts with his stirring victory in the $58,000 Kindergarten test for male sidewheelers; Lauren Order came within a second of the Vernon mark for frosh filly pacers with her 1:54 triumph in the opening $65,500 division; Xactly Hanover continued his winning ways with a 1:58.3 tally (three-fifths of a second off the Downs standard) in the $67,750 final for 2-year-old male trotters, and Lock Katrine took top honors in her $85,000 Classic class for first-year filly high-steppers with a 2:00.1 career-best showing.

Former local driving champion Joe Pavia Jr. did the teaming for trainer Harold Purdy in the final series flight as Kansas Wildcat, benefiting from a pocket trip for most of the mile, charged home in a :27.3 final quarter to post a 4 3/4-length triumph and delight his backers with a $27.60 win payoff.

It was the fourth win in eight starts for the bay son of Blissful Hall, who increased his lifetime earnings to more than $51,000 for owner Alvin Jacobson. His career-best clocking bettered the old Vernon record by three ticks of the timer.

Pavia was also at the controls in the fifth race, as Lauren Order stayed covered up until the final furlong, and then rallied for a 2 1/2-length score, her third in six outings for trainer Steve Le Blanc and owner Joseph Barbera. The solid showing hiked her career winnings to $45,413.

Xactly Hanover became the meet’s first three-time winner and improved his summary line to 3-0-1 after four starts for trainer Paul Buer. Cat Manzi did the steering as the chestnut son of S J’s Caviar took charge off the gate and was never headed en route to a 1 1/2-length triumph. The consistent colt has banked $43,313 in his first season for owners Paul Nigito, Peter Barbato, Skipper Mathews and Tindaro Abramo.

“This is a really nice colt and he was perfect this evening,” said Manzi, a member of the sport’s Living Hall of Fame.

Manzi also handled the line behind Loch Katrine, who competed as part of an Ed Lohmeyer stable entry.

The bay daughter of Andover Hall raced gamely from sixth in the early going and fifth at the head of the lane to eek out a neck triumph over stablemate Pacific Edge (Lohmeyer teaming). The lifetime best score resulted in her second trip to the winner’s circle in six tries and boosted her career winnings to $55,810 for owners Robert and Lauren Tucker.

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