Whittemore wins 3 including Thursday feature with Hot List

Hot List wins Thursday's feature

Hot List converted a text book trip into a 1:52 victory in Thursday night's $10,000 Open for female pacers at Vernon Downs.

Leaving from post position one as the race's second wagering choice, Hot List drafted along behind the pace-setting favorite Abbey Road Hanover through splits of :27, :55.4 and 1:24.1 before pulling the pocket in the final furlong and defeating the  mile-cutter by one length at the finish.

Thursday's tally was the first locally, third this season and 14^th all-time for the Ray Van Dreason-trained 5-year-old mare, who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Joseph Di Scala, Jr. and Cynthia Lynn Massari.  The bay daughter of McArdle-Only Gossip is currently a career winner of more than $204,000.

Thursday's feature-race first-place finish was one of three during the 10-race card for former Downs driving champ Jimmy Whittemore.

Driver Howard Okusko, Jr., celebrating his 51^st birthday during the track's 49^th program, also collected three wins during the evening, while his wife, Jessica, picked up a pair of training credits. 

Joe Nassimos realized his initial driving double of the meet after scoring with the trotters DL Cruiser in race one and Double-A Gloria in race three.

DOWNS DOINGS—Lady Jake's career-best 1:55 victory for the Okusko-duo in Thursday's fourth event was just 2/5ths-of-a-second off the local season's fastest mile by a 2-year-old pacing filly, set by Misty Major on July 25.  The promising filly is owned by the M&L stable of Delaware and Canada's Century Spring Farms…DL Cruiser ($4,500) became the 13^th successful claim of the meet in race one…The Downs will begin an 11-race card at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night…A revised 2013 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.