Pair of Track Records Fall on Thursday Night Card

Southwind Wasabi and Dejarmbro each crafted track record performances during Thursday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs.

While turning in the second fastest trotting mile in the track’s 57-year history, Southwind Wasabi produced a 1:53 Downs standard for 4-year-old mares on the diagonal gait with her solid two-length score in Vernon’s $25,000 leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older mare trotters.

The favorite Dejarmbro delivered a personal-best 1:55.3 victory in the opening division of Thursday’s $133,708 New York Sires Stake for 2-year-old male trotters that chopped 4/5ths-of-a-second off the previous mark for freshman colt high-steppers, set by Blacktuxwhitesocks last season.

As the crowd’s fourth wagering choice, Southwind Wasabee paid $25.20 after collecting her third season’s score for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Howard Taylor and James Koran ownership contingent.

Vernon’s leading driver Josh Marks did the teaming for trainer Ron Burke.

With Jeff Gregory steering for trainer Jessica Okusko and Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables, Dejarmbro converted a pocket trip into his third straight score and fourth tally in six lifetime starts. He paid $3.40.

Thursday’s other NYSS colt/gelding divisional winners were I’m The Answer (Gregory driving for trainer Okusko and the Purple Haze Stables) in 1:56.4, Tiger’s Too Good (Wally Hennessey steering for trainer Joe Holloway, a part owner along with Hugh Grant, Jr., L & L Devisser LLC, and the Val D’Or Farms) in 1:57.2, and the dead-heat first place finishers Keenan (Jim Morrill, Jr. piloting for trainer Larry Remmen and owners John Lichtenberger and Ray Remmen) and Neal (David Miller sitting in for trainer Jim Campbell and the Fashion Farms) in 1:57.3.

Off The Grid (Morrill, Jr. teaming for owner-trainer Jody Weidman) earned a 1:57.4 speed mark and his fourth season’s score while posting the fastest divisional triumph in Thursday’s $39,500 NYSS late-closing contest for 3-year-old male trotters.

The evening’s other late-closing flights went to Black Licorice (Brian Mattison handling the lines for trainer Paul Kelley and the East Pond Stable) in 1:58.1, and Signal Hill Ginger (Gregory getting the call from trainer Tim Lanpher and owner Wesley Chandler) in 2:00.

Gregory chalked up four wins during the track’s 58th program, while Okusko, the track’s defending conditioning champ, was credited with three tallies.

DOWNS DOINGS—Vivid Photo is still the track’s fastest trotter of all time on the basis of a 1:52.1 mile in 2007…Morrill, Jr. visited Vernon’s winner’s circle twice during Thursday’s program…The Keenan-Neal tie marked the first dead-heat for win at the meet…Friday night’s 10-race card will begin at 6:55 p.m.