Competing in the $6,200 eighth event over a rain-soaked, sloppy track, Lopez, currently second in races won and training tallies at the 18-program meet, hustled High Speed Life to the early lead and then was content to sit in second as Table Games took over and led the field to the three-quarter mark in 1:25.1. Lopez then eased his steady-striding seven-year-old mare out of the pocket in the stretch and, together, they rallied for a three-quarter length triumph in 1:54.2.
Thursday’s tally was the second this season, both locally, and the 32nd all-time for the bay daughter of Lease On Life-Nano, who has amassed a bankroll of $520,905 after 128 career starts.
Lopez also finished first with William G. Fisher’s trotter Canadian Overall (1:59.2) and Whitney Bell Goodblood’s trotter Zigaro (CR Excalibur, Winbak Graduate) (2:00.3) during Thursday’s 11-race program.
Driver Jimmy Whittemore also collected three wins during the initial Thursday program of Vernon’s 60th season, while Truman Gale earned a pair of sulky scores, Neal Russo two training tallies and owner Cassie Russo victories with the pacers Ex Dream (Dream Away) (1:58.1) and Bells Are Ringing (Winbak Graduate) (1:54.2).
(Vernon Downs)