Vernon Downs: Met's Hall holds off Manchego to take Zweig Memorial

Met's Hall proved that his second-place finish in the Hambletonian was no fluke as he wired the field in the $350,000 Dr. Harry Zweig Memorial on Friday night at Vernon Downs, upsetting favorites Manchego and Six Pack for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller.

Sent off at odds of 12-1, Met's Hall blasted to the front when the gate opened, going by second choice Six Pack and favorite Manchego and reaching the quarter in 26 4/5.

From that marker Miller deftly slowed the half to a crawl in 57 seconds, and that forced the hand of Ake Svanstedt, who vacated the pocket and applied pressure with Six Pack at that marker. Manchego followed the cover on the outside, and Met's Hall reached three-quarters in 1:25 2/5 and awaited the onslaught in the stretch.

Six Pack couldn't continue in the lane, but Manchego rallied off cover and appeared to have a beat on the winner, but Met's Hall had something in reserve and sprinted home in 26 3/5 to preserve the victory by a nose.

Owned by Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable, Met's Hall was a winner for just the second time in six tries this year.

"My horse is usually better closing," said Miller, "I was waiting for Ake or Yannick to come and they didn't."

Miller was obviously happy with the slow half and perhaps even happier when Svanstedt didn't apply pressure on the turn.

"Once he straightens away into the stretch he digs in," said Miller of Met's Hall, a son of Cantab Hall that seems primed for a big second half to the season.

Supergirl Riley upset 1-9 favorite Plunge Blue Chip to capture the $180,000 Dr. Harry Zweig Memorial filly division. Marcus Miller guided the daughter of Muscle Mass for father Erv and wore down the pacemaker in the final strides of a 1:54 3/5 mile.

Supergirl Riley left the gate quickly but yielded to Basquiat, who allowed Plunge Blue Chip to take control before the 28-second opening quarter.

The three went around the track through controlled fractions of 57 2/5 and 1:26 3/5, and Marcus Miller elected to sit in on the final turn as Perfect Summer K pulled coverless and locked her in. Miller then had to check when Basquiat broke stride late on the final turn, allowing Perfect Summer K into the two-hole.

Despite the road trouble, when Miller angled Supergirl Riley off the pylons in early stretch she motored with a vengeance and overtook Plunge Blue Chip with ease. Perfect Summer K settled for third.

Sent off at 7-1 Supergirl Riley won for the second straight time for owners Paymaq Racing, George Golemes and Harvey Eisman.

"That's the kind of filly we thought she was," said Marcus Miller following the race. "She was having problems getting her air earlier this year."

In the $80,000 Zweig consolation Zephyr Kronos made amends for a break in stride in the Hambletonian with an effortless 1:52 career-best score. Yannick Gingras was a substitute in the bike for trainer Jimmy Takter, put the son of Ready Cash on top past the quarter, and the outcome was never in doubt as he easily held off early leader Missle Hill, with Mississippi Storm third after a long coverless trip.