Mr Web Page, driven by Roman Lopez, scored a surprise victory in the $9,500 Open Trot featured Friday at Vernon Downs, posting a win as the longest shot on the board at 15-1 in the field of six, paying $32.80.
Mr Web Page actually sat the pocket trip behind the more-fancied Tirade Hanover (Tyler Raymer) for the majority of the mile. Tirade Hanover led through the early fractions of :27.2 for the quarter, :57-seconds for the half, and 1:25.3 for three-quarters, but he came up empty in the lane and faded to finish last of the six. Once the field straightened away for home, Mr Web Page ranged up on the outside of the fading leader and stormed to the front, holding off a late charge from My Revenuer (Rick Plano) and the race favourite, Evil Urges (Jimmy Whittemore). My Revenuer, in fact, went from last at the top of the stretch to be second behind the longshot winner and complete the exacta, which paid $119.50.
Mr Web Page is owned by Helping Hands Stables of Woodburn, Indiana and is trained by his driver.
The complete order of finish for the Friday feature was Mr Web Page, My Revenuer, Evil Urges, A Penny Earned, War Hero, and Tirade Hanover. The final time was 1:54.1.
Even at 15-1, Mr Web Page was not the biggest-priced winner of the evening at Vernon Downs. That honour went to the winner of the seventh race, Pollux Blue Chip, who rallied from last in the field of nine at the three-quarter-mile mark to pass everyone in the stretch and win for owner/trainer/driver Claude Huckabone III of Utica, New York. Pollux Blue Chip was 29-1 and paid $60.50 for his victory. His winning time was 1:55.1.
Saturday will feature a special early post time at Vernon Downs. The 10-race program will begin at 6 p.m., with special giveaways of $2 Win tickets on California Chrome and posters of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown aspirant starting at 5 p.m., while supplies last.
(Vernon Downs)