Vernon: Intimidate posts eye-catching Credit Winner victory

Any doubt as to who is the best trotter in the sport was probably laid to rest on Friday night after Intimidate came from a seemingly impossible spot to gobble up the field in the Credit Winner and set the fastest ever trotting mile at Vernon Downs.

Sevruga took his usual spot on the engine and easily pocketed fellow leaver Wishing Stone through an opening quarter of 26 seconds. Shortly past the call, Market Share made his move to the front and cleared passing the half in 54 4/5.

The outer flow was led by a somewhat sluggish My MVP as Intimidate scooted up the cones into the four-hole behind Wishing Stone.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter Today!]

After cutting three quarters in 1:22 2/5, Market Share met up with Sevruga who easily charged to the front. Intimidate was still a good five lengths behind at that point when driver Ron Pierce found a seam to split horses and Intimidate did the rest. The Luc Blais trainee passed horses like they were standing still. He burst to the front in plenty of time to score a half-length win in 1:51 flat over Sevruga and a closing Mister Herbie.

The final clocking broke the previous track record of 1:51 1/5 set by San Pail.

Watch the Credit Winner replay

“The decision I had to make was at the quarter,” said Pierce. “I took the shot to go inside and was lucky enough to get through.”

Pierce continued on in glowing terms about the talented 4-year-old gelding.

“I don’t know where his bottom is. It’s going to be interesting. There is no question he can go in under 1:50.”

Intimidate ($7.00 to win) scored for the fifth time in six starts this year for owners Judith Farrow and Les Ecuries Luc Blais Inc. He has earned $140,670 this year.

Maven may have been the featured mare in the Muscle Hill, but stablemate D’Orsay did the best racing from start to finish.

Driven by Corey Callahan, D’Orsay was quickly hustled to the top. She led Cedar Dove past the opening quarter in 26 4/5 before Beatgoeson Hanover came to call with a quick charge to assume the front well before the 56-second half-time marker. Meanwhile, Maven, who settled in fifth early on, was attempting to mount a first-over charge on the rim.

Beatgoeson Hanover picked up the pace in the third quarter to the tune of a 1:24 2/5 clocking. With the outer flow somewhat non-existent, only the inside three of Beatgoeson Hanover, D’Orsay and Cedar Dove were in with a chance. In the end it was D’Orsay who finished with powerful strides to make easy work of her foes in a 1:52 track record clocking.

“I didn’t know that I was going to get the lead that easily,” remarked Callahan in the winner’s circle. “It worked out well.

“Jonas (Czernyson, trainer) and I were lucky that the owner decided to bring her back this year. They were going to breed her in Sweden.”

The Muscle Hill victory was the fourth on the year for D’Orsay ($4.50 to win). The daughter of Yankee Glide-Danae upped her 2013 bankroll to $153,678 for owner Consus Racing Stable Inc.

Both D’Orsay and Maven, who had a flat tire in the stretch, will head to the Delaware County Fairgrounds next for the Miss Versatility final.