A Penny Earned posts new lifetime mark in Open Trot win

A Penny Earned takes a new lifetime mark

The favorite A Penny Earned lived up to his top billing with a 1:54.4 victory in the $10,000 Open trot, while Scofanman secured the fastest mile, a 1:54.1 pacing triumph, on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

Assigned the outside six post in Saturday's first race, A Penny Earned went right to the front off the starting gate and stayed in the lead throughout, defeating Margarita Man by nearly four lengths.  Chris Lems did the steering for trainer/part-owner George Ducharme as the 4-year-old son of Conway Hall-Penny Dream delivered a fresh win-mark, his second season's score and 10^th lifetime tally.  The lifetime winner of $216,556 is also owned by Alfred Ross, Nicola Oliva and Paul Fontaine.

Trainer Brian Connor was the chauffeur of Scofanman, who zipped around a damp Vernon oval to post his first current victory and third career tally in Saturday's $3,000 third event.  The 4-year-old son of No Pan Intended-Dark Fiber took command in the clubhouse curve and never looked back en route to a 3-3/4-length score for owners Arnold Merola, Kathleen Merola and Bob Barnello.

Lems also won Saturday's second race with the Champion Stable's trotter Rockway (2:00.4) to chalk up his meet-leading fifth double.   Driver Truman Gale (the pacer Western Deuce in 1:55.4 and trotter Here Comes Annie in 1:56.3) also earned a pair of win-credits during the track's 13^th racing program.

Leading trainer Roman Lopez (14 conditioning credits) also posted two driving tallies during Saturday's nine-race card.

DOWNS DOINGS—After Lopez tied him at 26 with a first-place finish behind the Tanah Merah Farms-owned trotter Glorious Winner (1:55) in Saturday's $6,000 seventh race, leading driver Rick Plano regained the cat bird's spot atop the track's driving chart with a 1:56.2 score behind David Fisher's trotter Steuben Lone Pine in the evening's $5,000 ninth event…Live racing will resume at the Downs at 1:15 on Monday as the track presents a nine-race Memorial Day matinee, and a 60^th anniversary baseball cap giveaway, free while supplies last…A complete racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.