Vernon: Ahundreddollarbill best in Empire Breeders Classic for male trotters

Ahundreddollarbill is now three-for-three in 2021 after an impressive 1:53 2/5 win from first-over in Friday night's $205,500 Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old New York-sired male trotters at Vernon Downs.

A pair of Ake Svanstedt trainees, Ambassador Hanover (Svanstedt) and Incommunicado (Yannick Gingras) were away fastest from the gate, with Incommunicado getting by Ambassador Hanover to take the lead after the 27 second opening quarter. Ambassador Hanover then backed down the half to 56 4/5 with Ahundreddollarbill and driver Andrew McCarthy just biding their time in third.

On the far turn McCarthy gave Ahundreddollarbill his first-up marching orders, and he would move up beside Incommunicado at the 1:26 three-quarters before overtaking him early in the stretch drive. From there, Ahundreddollarbill moved away from the field on his way to a 2 3/4 length victory over Ambassador Hanover, with Incommunicado third over Seven Nation Army (Mark MacDonald).

"I think he was even better tonight than last time. He did that very easily," remarked McCarthy. "It worked out great. I got to sit him in there for a little while, and I think he's quite the special horse. The good horses, you can feel the engine revving in the last turn. He was wanting to go to work, but it wasn't quite time. We waited until we straightened up. I kind of let him trot off a little bit, and he was great."

A gelding by Chapter Seven, Ahundreddollarbill is trained by Tony Alagna for owners Crawford Farms Racing and James Crawford IV. Bred by Jonas Schlabach, Ahundreddollarbill was purchased for $65,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale. Ahundreddollarbill won for the fifth from from nine career starts, and he has now earned $208,362. He was the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.60 to win.

"He actually goes to the Yonkers Trot eliminations next Friday. It's a great race, especially for a New York-sired horse. He couldn't be coming into the race any better," said Alagna. "We've never raced him on a small track, but he raced in New York as a 2-year-old, and he always seemed to get around there well. I don't really have any hesitations about taking him to Yonkers. I think he'll be just fine."