Vernon: Big Apple Paces go to Fragment, Long Shore

Fragment, a Huntsville-sired colt, left no doubt about who the best freshman pacer in New York is with an authoritative 1:50 blowout mile in the first offering of the Big Apple Pace, a $250,000 event for 2-year-olds on Saturday night at Vernon Downs. Jason Bartlett guided the Per Engblom trainee down-the-road and left the field in the dust heading into the homestretch, completing his mile with a stunning 26 second flat final quarter.

Fragment left alertly from post six and steered around leavers Hunting Glory and Lakewood Nick to secure the front into the first turn. Yannick Gingras, driving Lakewood Nick, had trouble steering his horse, and though he raced parked outside Fragment, did not threaten him for the lead in a 25 4/5 opening and would remain parked the rest of the journey.

Bartlett had Fragment comfortably in control, setting fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:24 before stepping away from pocket-sitter Hunting Glory late on the final turn and opening ground with each stride. There was only a battle for the place spot late, and Hunting Glory was urged on by Jordan Stratton to hold the spot. Ghost Hunt was third, giving stallion Huntsville a sweep of the top three spots in the field.

Owned by Engblom Stable LLC, Douglas Sipple and Peaceful Acres Farm, Fragment won for the eighth time in 12 starts this year, with the 1:50 clocking his fastest winning effort. The heavy favorite in the field, Fragment returned $2.30 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

In the $250,000 Big Apple Pace for juvenile fillies, Gingras made a bold move past the quarter with favored Long Shore to gain control and then had enough left to hold on in the stretch to score her biggest career victory in a 1:51 4/5 clocking. Joe Pavia Jr. conditions the daughter of American Ideal that has now won seven of nine races during her first year at the track.

Liberty Style and Bartlett pressed on early for the front, with Odds On Monetary and Hunting Memories also aggressive from their outside posts. Bartlett managed to seat both rivals and cut the quarter in 26 2/5 with Liberty Style before Gingras made a bull rush with Long Shore.

Long Shore got the half in 55 4/5 but wasn't going to get any breathers as Odds On Monetary and Ridge Warren went on the offensive past the half to challenge. Existential and Matt Kakaley caught that cover before the three quarters, but Long Shore had command in 1:23 3/5 and looked strong heading into the homestretch.

Long Shore, kept to her task, by Gingras remained in front with a 28 1/5 final quarter as Existential rallied well for second, with Odds On Monetary third and a traffic-plagued Liberty Style settling for fourth.

Vincent Ferriero Jr., Domenic Pavia, Eric Prevost and Todd Frocione own Long Shore, who paid $5.44 to win.