Vernon: Track record for Vivians Dream in NY Sire Stakes showdown

Vivians Dream became a track record holder at Vernon Downs on Saturday night when she won the single $110,100 New York Sire Stakes contest for 2-year-old pacing fillies in 1:50 4/5, eclipsing the previous mark by four-fifths of a second.

Driver Jordan Stratton sent Vivians Dream out from post five and worked her way around Earthwindfire (Jack Pelling) to take charge before the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Twin B Joe Fresh (Jason Bartlett), coming off a 1:48 4/5 tally in Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile, would then move to the outside from third, and she blew by Vivians Dream approaching the 55 1/5 half.

Twin B Joe Fresh successfully fended off a first-over thrust from Earthwindfire on the last turn, put her away after the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, and brought the fillies into the lane, but Stratton brought Vivians Dream off the pylons to take another shot at Twin B Joe Fresh.

The fillies battled tooth-and-nail to the wire, but Vivians Dream had the better kick and was able to wear down Twin B Joe Fresh before the finish line, prevailing by half a length. Kissin Joe (Leon Bailey) finished in the third spot.

See You At Peelers (2010) and Zero Tolerance (2018) had shared the previous track record for a rookie pacing filly of 1:51 3/5.

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Vivians Dream, bred by Winbak Farm and purchased for $50,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is a daughter of American Ideal and is trained by Cory Mumford for owner Forrest Bartlett. Vivians Dream has six wins and a second from seven trips behind the gate, has now put away $206,675, and paid $7.80 to win as the 5-2 third choice. Vivians Dream is out the Sportswriter mare Sports Chic [1:54 2/5, $254,738], a half-sister to the great pacing filly Rainbow Blue.