Vernon Downs: Flowers N Songs uses stretch rally to take Zweig Filly Trot

Flowers N Songs, who won the C$174,329 S.B.O.A. Stakes earlier this year at Mohawk at odds of 23-1, pulled an 8-1 surprise on Sunday night at Vernon Downs when she won the $140,000 Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old filly trotters in 1:53 4/5.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Flowers N Songs was away sixth from post eight, while Swinging Royalty (Tim Tetrick) left out from the outside post nine and got to the opening quarter in 27 3/5. Swinging Royalty was challenged on the outside in the second quarter by Earn Your Wings (Jason Bartlett), and Earn Your Wings became the new leader before the 56 1/5 half.

Earn Your Wings remained the boss at the 1:25 three-quarters, but favored Womans Will (Andy Miller) was first-over and just a length behind at that point. Fad Finance (Jim Morrill Jr.) tracked her from second-over, and Flowers N Songs was positioned third-over.

Womans Will forged her way past Earn Your Wings in the stretch, and looked to set sail for the wire, but Flowers N Songs came wide for the drive, and she would use a 28 second final panel to get up for the victory by a length and three-quarters over Womans Will. Fad Finance would finish third.

"She's come along real well," said winning trainer Paul Reid. "Rich Gillock brought her back for (owner Bob Key) in the wintertime at The Meadows, and he did a great job. We've been fortunate enough to be able to race her this summer and been real happy with almost every start so far.

"I'll have to talk it over with Mr. Key. We were looking to go to the Hambletonian Oaks, but we'll see. After tonight's performance, I think she's earned her way there."

Key also bred Flowers N Songs, a daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe. Unraced as a 2-year-old, Flowers N Songs is now seven-for-16 this season with $206,553 in earnings. She returned $18.40 for the upset win.

There were also a pair of Zweig consolations on the card. Tony Alagna trainee Double Exposure (Tim Tetrick), last year's Goldsmith Maid champion, moved to the lead at the 58 second half and went on to win the $35,000 consolation #1 in 1:54 4/5, while 21-1 Hillosophical (Dave Miller) turned a second-over trip into a 1:53 4/5 victory in the $15,000 consolation #2. Hillosophical is trained by Valeriya Medik.