Sheer Brilliance turns in brilliant performance on Saturday night

Sheer Brilliance and Aaron Byron

The favorite Sheer Brilliance lived up to his top billing with a seamless 1:50.2 showing to capture Saturday night's $10,000 Open pace at Vernon Downs.

Leaving from the outside five post position in race two, Sheer Brilliance flashed by splits of :25.1, :53 and 1:21.4 while beating back all challenges, and cruised to a 1-1/4 length triumph over JK Panache, last week's winner in this top-flight class.

Saturday's sizzler secured the third local victory, the eighth season's score and 42^nd lifetime triumph for the 8-year-old son of Blissfull Hall-High Roller Ash, who is owned by trainer Jeffrey Long and J. Paul Long.  Aaron Byron did the teaming as the gritty gelding bumped his career winnings to $497,365.

Byron also finished first with the pacer Mister Hill in race seven to earn his first multiple win night at the 77-program meeting.

Former Canadian driving champ (Rideau Carleton) John MacDonald delivered three winners during the 13-race program, as did Chris Lems and Fern Paquet, Jr., while trainer James Clouser, Jr. harnessed a pair of first-place finishers.  

DOWNS DOINGS—Paquet, who has been racing regularly at Vernon since its sister track, Tioga Downs, closed, has spurted to 29 driving victories, including seven during the weekend…One of his Saturday scores was behind the pacer Dana Boko (1:58.1), which was the 3-year-old filly's first pari-mutuel victory…The Downs will offer live racing Thursday-Saturday next week, with first post at 6:45…Next Friday (Oct. 18), the track will host the fifth and final preliminary leg of the Kindergarten Classic Series for 2-year-old trotters.  It will also present the event's $400,000 championship final the following Friday, Oct. 25…Only 11 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.