Trotters Tour Vernon Downs In Final ‘Trail’ Prep

Vernon Downs is hosting the Zweig Memorial for sophomore trotters on Sunday, July 26, which encompasses a $76,000 consolation, a $185,000 final for fillies and a $370,000 final for colts.

The consolation attracts seven “B” list trotters, setting up for an interesting betting affair. Value may lay in Uncle Hanover or Fashion Creditor here.

Uncle Hanover comes from the D.R. Ackerman stables, and, outside of a poor effort in the Reynolds, has raced very well for them. He is of a different class than likely favored hopefuls Iron and Total Darkness but could still pull off an upset.

Fashion Creditor is also in with a shot, as, outside of a sick scratch last week, he has been racing well. Most notably, he finished third over this surface in the Empire Breeders Classic. He should have no issue tackling this bunch.

The Zweig Memorial for fillies is another event that is, once again this season, in the hands of last year’s freshman star Mission Brief. Entering off a second-place finish in the Del Miller Memorial in her first pari-mutual outing since winning the New Jersey Sires Stakes final in May, she is bound to put in an improved performance. But being the potential chalk is not enticing one bit, especially when she’s coupled with two other Ron Burke trainees. Outside of the obvious fillies in the two entries, Lock Down Lindy should be the value of the race. She was forced to close into slow fractions set in the Del Miller and still closed well despite her sixth-place finish. She should be involved from the rail.

Pinkman established himself as a stronger force after winning the Stanley Dancer last week, thus he heads into the colt Zweig as the overwhelming choice, especially since he’s coupled with Takterians [sic] Uncle Lasse, Canepa Hanover, and Whom Shall I Fear.

Now a six-horse wagering contest from a pari-mutual perspective, the other horse in this race is Habitat, off a second-place effort to Pinkman in the Stanley Dancer. He is continually returning to his sharp form and should have no issue overcoming post 8.

The racing of classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters—on their quest to the Hambletonian and “Oaks” finals continues its exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society.

Recaps of races covered in this blog can be found at the archive section of the web’s home for the Hambletonian Society.