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>Vegas Vacation earned his first Grand Circuit victory with a dazzling 1:48.3 stakes record performance in the first of two $75,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacers on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.


Driver Scott Zeron settled Vegas Vacation away fourth behind insider Sweet Talkin Satin (Rick Zeron) and early leavers Urbanite Hanover (John Campbell) and Evenin Of Pleasure (Sylvain Filion) when the wings of the gate folded. Evenin Of Pleasure pocketed Urbanite Hanover as he blazed to the quarter in :26.1, but once the field of seven straightened up into the backstretch, Vegas Vacation made the winning move.


The 2-5 favourite swept to command and reached the half in :54.4 with Captive Audience (Randy Waples) in pursuit and Tarpon Hanover (Jody Jamieson) following his cover. Captive Audience applied first over pressure to Vegas Vacation as they raced by three-quarters in 1:21.3, but the leader drew clear in the stretch and held off the late rally of Sweet Talkin Satin on the far outside to shave a full second off his lifetime mark. Tarpon Hanover edged out Evenin Of Pleasure for third. Captive Audience finished fifth.


Vegas Vacation paid $3.10 to win.


"He couldn't have been any better," said trainer Casie Coleman in a post-race interview. "He tied up on me on Wednesday and he didn't even get to train a fast mile this week. I actually told the owners there's a good shot I'm scratching him on Wednesday, but I pulled his blood again this morning before he raced and I couldn't believe how good it was; it was awesome. Obviously, he showed today he overcame it."


The Bettors Delight-Dont You Smile gelding is trained by Coleman for Ontario owners West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Adriano Sorella of Milton, Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, and Phyllis Saunders of Hamilton.


Undefeated in three sophomore starts, Vegas Vacation now has four wins and six seconds in 13 races lifetime and earnings totalling $151,751.


"He's a wicked fast horse, but I wish he was a little bit smarter," said Coleman, explaining that the gelding is still learning how to race. "He has raw speed and he's got a great gait on him. And same with his manners, this year he's been very, very good. He's not at all like he was in his two-year-old season."