Hay Goodlooking Becomes winningest horse at Vernon Downs

Maryann Plano's Hay Goodlooking became the winningest equine performer after 84 season's offerings at Vernon Downs following his 1:53.1 score in Saturday night's $10,000 featured Open pace.

Facing six select rivals in race nine, the favored Hay Goodlooking ($4.60) went right to the front for driver/trainer Rick Plano and cut fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:24.3 before earning a neck triumph over the fast-closing newcomer El Ringer.

While turning in the fastest mile during Saturday's chilly 10-race card, Hay Goodlooking secured his second win in a row and eighth at the meeting, giving him a one-win edge over fellow side-wheeler Rosa Villa.

It marked the ninth win in 2011 and the 25th all-time for the 5-year-old son of Art Major-Monique's Legacy, who bumped his career bankroll to more than $405,300.

The win was one of three during the evening for Plano, who finished his Vernon stay with 81 first-place driving wins and 49th training tallies, both figures good enough for second place on the meet's driving and conditioning charts, respectively.

He will be shipping his superb stable to Florida's Pompano Park early next week.

Maryann Plano's pacer Dot's Bigboy also finished first during the program, giving her an owner double, while leading driver Jimmy Whittemore and trainer/driver Roman Lopez also delivered a pair of victories.

DOWNS DOINGS - Whittemore raised his win total to 101 following catch-driving scores behind the pacers Major's Centerfold and Spartacus Jim... Canouan and DL Cruiser are tops in trotting tallies at the meet with six scores each... There were three dead-heat finishes during the evening, two for second place... The Vernon based 2-year-old colt trotter Royal Shyster finished fifth in his class with trainer Dan Daley driving during Saturday night's Breeders Crown competition at Canada's Woodbine Racetrack... Only six more live programs remain during the track's 58th season... Vernon will switch to a Friday and Saturday schedule only for the final three weekends of its 90-card campaign, ending live racing on Nov. 19. First post each night will be at 6:55... Additional information regarding the track's 2011 season, its casino and newly-renovated hotel can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.