Yankee Manny, All About Attitude highlight Wednesday night racing

Excellent efforts by Yankee Manny and All About Attitude highlighted Wednesday night's 10-race harness program at Vernon Downs.

Yankee Manny exploited a late opening in the pylon path to become the second five-time winning equine of Vernon's 45-program meeting following a 1:53.3 tally in the week's $11,000 Open trot, while All About Attitude became the local season's fastest 2-year-old filly pacer after a career-best 1:55.2 performance in Wednesday's third event.

Joining fellow high-stepper My Buddy Hall Lee as the local campaign's only five-time winning equines, Yankee Manny ($5.10) drafted along in second place until the top of the stretch and, after the pace-setting Manningly bore out entering the final furlong, then charged through the inside lane to win, going away, by more than two lengths.

Frank Davis delivered his 31^st driving victory and 14^th training tally while guiding the 6-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Yankee Minuet to his seventh season's score and 26^th lifetime victory.  The career-winner of more than $153,000 has finished in the money in all of his last eight starts for owner Brian Green. 

Making her fourth career appearance against seven frosh female rivals, All About Attitude ($8.60) battled for the lead from the word "go," took command nearing the three-quarter mark and kicked home in :29.2 for trainer/driver Chuck Connor, Jr. to record her maiden victory for owners Janice Connor and Michelle C. Crawford.

Leading driver Rick Plano got his 71^st victory behind the Tracy Brainard-trained trotter Confederate Man in the eighth event and now needs just 16 more tallies to reach the coveted 6,000 career-win mark.  Second leading reinsman Chris Lems reached 60 first-place finishes at the meet after recording his ninth driving double, while Plano's 32-year-old son, Luke, also chalked up two Wednesday scores, as did veteran conditioner Angus Mac Donald.

DOWNS DOINGS—Owner Green also got a 1:55.3 victory out of his veteran pacing mare Jo Pa's Wish in Wednesdays fifth event…Thursday's 10-race program will begin at 6:55 p.m…The Downs will host a New York Sire Stakes-sponsored contest for 2-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday night, Aug. 8 and a NYSS contest for 3-year-old filly trotters on Saturday evening, Aug. 11… Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.