Leading Driver Marks Triples His Fun

Sundowner Bob secured a training double for owner Scott West and a triple for leading driver Josh Marks with a 1:56.1 triumph in Saturday night’s $11,000 featured seventh race at Vernon Downs.

Leaving from the outside nine post in the week’s top Miracle Mile trotting contest, Sundowner Bob challenged for the lead from the start, took charge in Vernon’s clubhouse curve and then cruised to a three-quarter length decision over Unshakeable.

As second choice in the betting, he paid $5.70 to win.

It was the second season’s score (second in his last three starts) and 30th all-time for the 8-year-old son of Muscles Yankee-Pine Potion, who increased his lifetime earnings to more than $389,800.

West also owns and conditions the trotter Cool Touch, who produced a 1:56.3 victory for Marks in Saturday’s fifth race.

Marks also won with the trotting newcomer Current Ca Ching, conditioned by Paul Kulls, Jr. for owner Gil Chip Lawyer, en route to his ninth hat trick at the 44-program meet.

DOWNS DOINGS—Owner/trainer Leon Cable chalked up his first Vernon victory when Whiteland Will trotted to a 1:58.3 victory for driver Jimmy Whittemore in Saturday’s second race… Michael Miller, the meet’s second-leading provisional driver (behind Leon Bailey), notched his fourth win of the local campaign after Pacific Wave trotted to a 1:57.3 tally in Saturday’s third test… The Downs will present a special 12-race, all pacing make up program (for a Clint Black concert here on Friday, Aug. 6) at 1:15 p.m. this Monday (Aug. 2).