Obrigado Shows True Grit

VERNON, NY – Obrigado had more grit than Lindy’s Tru Grit to score a narrow win in the $200,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot Friday night at Vernon Downs.

Driven by Mark Macdonald for trainer Paul Kelley, who is one of the owners of the seven-year-old gelding by Boy Band, Obrigado was extremely game after battling early pacesetter Melady’s Monet, who led by a head after an opening quarter in 27 1/5. Macdonald hustled his mount to the lead and took over leading up to the half-mile point in 56 1/5. But the 1½-length lead started to diminish and was narrowed to a half length after three quarters in 1:24 4/5. It was at that point that Lindy’s Tru Grit found a seam and led by a quarter of a length at the top of the stretch. But Obrigado found a little something extra to reclaim the lead and won by a neck in 1:52. Melady’s Monet finished third. Elitloppet winner Magic Tonight, who was making his second race in the U.S. after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the John Cashman Memorial, never really kicked into gear and placed fourth.

Don’t forget: John Campbell will be our guest today (Saturday) at 10:10 am (Eastern) on the Sirius XM Down the Stretch show. We’re now on Sirius CH. 93 and XM CH. 93.