Telenovela flew down the stretch to steal the spotlight in the $7,500 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday, Aug. 4.
Lepanto (Barton Dalious) took control from post seven sprinting a quarter in :26.2 then backed down the pace to the half in :55.3. Majestic Sunset (Jack McNeil) was first to make a move heading to the final turn, but Lepanto shook him off and was first to three-quarters in 1:25.4. As they made the turn for home, favourite Makadushin N Cheez (Jimmy Whittemore) popped the pocket as HP Maestro (Ray Fisher Jr.) went three-wide, but then Telenovela, who followed in fifth most of the way, made her move like she was shot out of a cannon and blew on by to win for driver Dylan Huckabone-Miller while equalling her lifetime best of 1:55.1. HP Maestro and Makadushin N Cheez finished less than a length behind in second and third, respectively.
Telenovela paid $7.80 to win as the 5-2 second choice. The four-year-old mare by Devious Man is owned by Daley Double Racing and trained by Claude Huckabone III. The win was her sixth win of the season from 16 starts and she now has a dozen career victories.
Driver John MacDonald had a natural hat trick winning the last three races. He got his wins with Cloudbreak ($5.20) for trainer Artie Dick, Dream On A Roll ($16) for the Gary Gibson stable and Nolaughingstock ($5) for conditioner Joseph Sansone.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday with a 10-race card starting at 6:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)