Two EBC finals held

Passionate Glide produced a 1:54.3 local standard for older trotting mares in the $133,000 final of the Conway Hall Mare Trot; Bet To Win waltzed to a 1:55.2 career-best triumph in the $153,125 Empire Breeders Classic title test for 3-year-old male members of the diagonal gait; and Oh Oh Its Magic remained undefeated after three current appearances and lowered her speed mark to 1:56.4 while seizing the Empire Breeders Classic’s $180,625 championship clash for sophomore filly high-steppers.

Leaving from the outside nine post in the seventh session, Passionate Guide benefited from an ideal trip from driver Mike Lachance to earn her first win in three current outings. The talented 4-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide followed Mystical Sunshine for most of the mile before shedding cover in the final furlong and striding to a one-length decision over Buck I St. Pat.

Jimmy Takter trains the career winner of more than $1.8 million for Brittany Farms. The winning time trimmed two-fifths of a second off the previous Vernon record for older trotting mares, established, oddly enough, by Mystical Sunshine last year.

A member of the Ray Remmen Stable, Bet To Win had the services of noted catch-driver Dan Dube as he rallied rapidly from third in the homestretch to defeat New Hampshire Boy by more than two lengths in the ninth race. The fast-closing effort gave the Credit Winner colt his initial score of 2007 and raised his lifetime bankroll to more than $83,000 for Remmen’s long-time patron John Lichtenberger.

“We had three promising colts last year, but we felt Bet To Win was the best,” explained a relieved Remmen in the paddock following the race. “He certainly was the fastest, but not necessarily the soundest of the trio. He’s finally able to show just how good he is.”

Competing as the 11th race favorite, Oh Oh Its Magic went right to the lead for driver Jimmy Morrill Jr. and never relinquished her advantage, scoring by nearly three lengths over Julieannie, a member of the three-horse Ray Schnittker Stable entry that finished second, third and fourth. Carl Gillespie conditions the lifetime winner of $203,404 for owner Carolyn Atherton.

“She’s as quick as can be off the gate, as you saw today,” said Morrill. “I planned to keep her up front and that’s the way the trip worked out.”

With Claude Huckabone Jr. doing the teaming for his dad, trainer/part-owner Claude Huckabone and Casey Miller, Ginger Girl rallied from second at the half to record a 1:56.2 tally in the $8,500 Open Trot headliner, which honored the memory of former four-time Downs dash-winning champ Gary Gibson, who passed away last fall.

In Monday’s pacing features, Smoky Bonz, a member of the Purple Haze Stables, got a textbook trip from Howard Okusko, Jr. to take the $8,500 Open-1 test in 1:54.2, while the Kelley Racing Stable’s Midsummer Delight took the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Open in 1:56.3 with Brian Mattison doing the steering for trainer Paul Kelley. (Vernon Downs)