Bar Hopping, Flowers N Songs victorious in Zweig Memorial
Vernon, NY — Bar Hopping ($2.60, part of entry) and Flowers N Songs ($18.40) proved victorious in their respective main events of the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (July 24) evening at Vernon Downs.
Bar Hopping used an aggressive middle move to seize command in the $300,000 Zweig main event for colts and geldings, brushing from fifth and clearing just after a :57 half mile. The son of Muscle Hill would go on to face pressure from Hititoutofthepark (Corey Callahan) on the far turn, but edged clear upon straightening for home. Bar Hopping subsequently held sway of a late bid from pocket rival Milligan’s School (Andy Miller) to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1. Milligan’s School narrowly held second from Love Matters (Brett Miller) and the leveled-off Hititoutofthepark, who shared third in a dead heat.
Tim Tetrick drove Bar Hopping, now a three-time winner, for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Christina Takter, the Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld.
In the $140,000 Zweig event for fillies, Flowers N Songs vaulted off third-over cover to eclipse 5-4 favorite Womans Will for a 1:53.4 victory. Yannick Gingras settled well off the pace with the Deweycheatumnhowe filly, floating off the pegs at race’s midpoint to stalk cover provided by Womans Will (Andy Miller) and Fad Finance (Jim Morrill, Jr.). In upper stretch, Flowers N Songs circled four-wide, finding her best stride at the eighth pole and slingshotting clear to a 1-3/4 length victory over the aforementioned pair. Womans Will narrowly held second, while Fad Finance stayed on for third.
Paul Reid trains seven-time winner Flowers N Songs for Robert Key.
In the consolation divisions for colts and geldings, Sutton ($7.20, Andy Miller, 1:52.4) and Waitlifter K ($7.90, Matt Kakaley, 1:52.3) captured the winner’s shares of the $75,000 and $30,000 events, respectively. Double Exposure ($3.70, Tetrick, 1:54.4) and Hillosophical ($44.80, David Miller, 1:53.4) proved victorious in the $35,000 and $15,000 consolation events for fillies.
