Airzoom Lindy posted the fastest trotting mile of the 40-program meeting and a track record for four-year-old diagonally-gaited horses with his 1:54.1 triumph in Friday night’s $11,000 featured sixth race at Vernon Downs.
Trainer Frank Antonacci was on hand to drive Airzoom Lindy in his first official start of 2010. Leaving from post six, the well-bred son of Cantab Hall-True Diva followed Sharpshootennorris to the quarter, timed in 28 seconds over a “good” track, then took charge and remained on the lead en route to a one and three-quarter length triumph in the week’s Miracle Mile-1 contest.
The eye-popping performance trimmed three-fifths of a second off the previous meet standard for high-steppers, and four-fifths of a second off the track’s all-time mark, set by Diamond Goal in 2002.
It was the fifth lifetime tally for the career-winner of $206,609, who is owned by the Lindy Racing Stable (his breeder) and Robert Rudolph. He paid $4.10 for finishing first.
The M&L of Delaware stable’s Ladystar delivered the meet’s swiftest mile by a two-year-old filly pacer after her 1:56.2 triumph in Friday’s $2,900 second event. Chris Lems did the catch-driving for trainer Larry Rathbone as the brown daughter of Bettors Delight-Forever Cam chalked up a win record and her first score in three official trips to the track.
Friday’s fastest mile was a 1:53 showing by newcomer Here Comes Kris (trainer Kevin Hough driving for himself and Kelly Hough) in the $3,000 first race. The five-year-old pacer’s lifetime best mile resulted in his third season’s score.
DOWNS DOINGS—Fox Valley Majesty became the first five-time winning trotter at the meet following his 1:57.3 victory for leading driver Josh Marks and top trainer Tracy Brainard (also the nine-year-old claimer’s owner) in Friday’s fourth event.
Southwind Samirai and Armbro Doyle had shared the season’s swiftest trotting time prior to Airzoom Lindy’s quick clocking.
The pacing colt Samandar remains the fastest freshman of 2010 on the strength of his 1:55.4 mile on July 3.
Defending dash champ Jimmy Whittemore raised his current win total here to 50 after a driving double during Friday’s 11-race card.
(Vernon)
