Mach My Word is fastest on Saturday night

The pacer Mach My Word was Saturday night's fastest race winner, while another proponent of the lateral gait, Delaware Hanover, became the first 2-year-old to earn an official victory at Vernon Downs this season.

Mach My Word ($11.20) made every station a winning one en route to a 1:51.3 first-place finish in Saturday's $6,500 seventh race.  Frank Davis sat in for trainer Scott West as the swift-footed 4-year-old son of Mach Three-Keepsake Killean became a two-time winner at the 26-program meeting and secured his fifth career win for West and co-owner Tracy Brainard. 

Seven precocious frosh pacers were showcased in Saturday's $3,000 third event, with the well-bred colt Delaware Hanover cutting fractions of :28.1, :59.2 and 1:28.4, and then holding off a late bid by the colt Artis Great, before registering a 1:57.2 career-best score in his third lifetime outing.  He had previously finished first in two qualifying miles here, posting times of 1:59.1 and 1:57.3, respectively.  Trainer Frank Milby guided the brown son of Dragon Again-Dashaway Hanover to the convincing tally for owner Irwin Samelman.

Defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore chalked up three tallies during Saturday's 13-race card, while current dash-leader Chris Lems registered two scores, as did fellow teamster Davis and trainers Lonny Hale and Scott West.

DOWNS DOINGS—Davis leads in driving doubles at the meet with six…The pacer Lightning Prince and trotter My Buddy Hall Lee each extended their winning streaks to three, tying two other pacers and a like number of square-gaiters for top honors in that category…Josh Kinney recorded his fourth provisional driving victory at the meet behind the Hale-trained pacer Bullish Blue Chip in Saturday's fifth race and currently trails Michael Miller by one first-place finish in that category…There will be no live racing at the Downs next Thursday, June 28.  Live racing will resume on Friday (June 29) and continue on Saturday (June 30)…Vernon will present a special Tuesday card (first post 6:55 p.m.) on July 3, followed by a 1:15 matinee program on Wednesday, July 4.  There will be no live racing on Thursday, July 5 due to a concert at the track.  Live racing will resume at 6:55 p.m. on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7.  Starting on July 11, Vernon will add Wednesday nights (first post 6:55) to its live racing schedule in July and August....Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.