Ocean's Motion wins Thursday feature by 4 lengths

Ocean's Motion splashes home to win

Ocean's Motion obtained her first win of the season with an impressive 1:55.1 performance in Thursday night's $12,000 Open feature for female pacers at Vernon Downs.

Competing for only the 12^th time this season, Ocean's Motion had veteran Chuck Connor, Jr. at the controls as she left from the outside five post position in Thursday's 11^th event.  Racing over a rain-soaked, sloppy track, the 6-year-old mare took her time building up speed.  She rallied from fifth at the quarter to fourth at the half, shot to the front around the final bend and then showed her heels to the small but select field in the stretch, winning by an eased up 4-1/4 lengths.

The stout effort resulted in the 22^nd lifetime victory for the daughter of Camotion-Cr Charisma, who raised her career bankroll to more than $335,700.  Janice Connor (Chuck's wife) conditions the bay battler for owner Robert J. Lovett.

Fans witnessed the second dead-heat for win at Vernon's 81-program meeting after the pacers Rocha's Hanover and Sunshine Patriot tied at the top following a 1:54.2 mile in Thursday's seventh session. 

The win by Rocha's Hanover was her second at the meet for trainer Robert C. Gale and owners Scott Hay and Scott Miller.  Driver Truman Gale earned three wins during Thursday's 12-race card.

Sunshine Patriot's score was also her second of the season at the Downs.  Joe Bongiorno did the teaming for trainer Brad Irvine and owners Kim and Jordan Myers. 

Bongiorno also won with the pacer Inittowinafortune (1:52.3 in the ninth event) to secure his first driving double at the Downs this season.

Robert C. Gale collected his second win of the evening after Truman Gale won the eighth race with Upfrontandpersonal (1:56.4) for owner Ross Bonafield.     

DOWNS DOINGS—Truman Gale's other win was behind the Judy Lanpher-trained pacer Sinspirational (1:53.1) in Thursday's third race.  Lanpher owns the 5-year-old mare along with her daughter, Connie, and Larry T. Lanpher….Tomorrow night; Vernon will host the $433,500 championship finals of the Kindergarten Classic for 2-year-old trotters.  Friday's 12-race program will begin at 6:45 p.m.…Only seven live racing dates remain during the track's 60^th anniversary season that continues through Nov. 9…A revised 2013, 88-program 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.