Despite a step up in class, Yankee Manny managed to obtain his second straight score in Friday night’s $10,000 featured first race at Vernon Downs
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Making just his second local appearance, Yankee Manny ($24.20) followed up a 1:56.3 victory against lesser company last Friday with a career-fastest 1:55 triumph in this week’s Open-1 trotting contest.
Trainer Frank Davis did the driving as Yankee Manny rallied from sixth in the early going, overcame a parked-out journey around the final bend, and then zipped home from third in the final furlong (last quarter in :27.4) to finish first by more than two lengths.
It was the sixth season’s score and 17th lifetime victory for the five-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Yankee Minuet, who is owned by Brian Green. The Pocono Downs ship-in has earned $9,200 in his two Vernon outings, raising his career winnings to more than $88,300.
Driver Frank Milby collected three wins during Friday’s 12-race program, including a 1:55.4 triumph behind Dilly Dally Delia in race six, the week’s $8,000 Open-2 trotting test. John Wilkerson conditions the six-time current winner for owner Benjamin Brooks.
DL Cruiser became the winningest trotter at the 71-program meeting following a lifetime-best 1:57 score in Friday’s $6,500 seventh session with trainer Joe Nassimos steering for owners Nicholas Angarano and Shawn Ross. It was the six-year-old gelding’s second win in succession and sixth at the Downs thus far in 2011. The pacer Rosa Villa in the winningest equine at the meet with seven scores.
(Vernon Downs)