Noble Wabbit wins the Rewind Race again

Arockin Hanover and Truman Gale

Newcomer Arockin Hanover captured the $12,000 Open pace; Noble Wabbit lowered his odd-distance record for 7/8ths-of-a-mile in the "Turn Back The Clock Rewind Race," while drivers John MacDonald and Truman Gale each recorded four victories during Saturday night's 13-race program at Vernon Downs.

The Saratoga-shipper Arockin Hanover went off as the second choice in Saturday's featured seventh session.  As the favorite Sheer Brilliance cut fast fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:22.4, Arockin Hanover drafted along back in fourth place.  Entering the homestretch, Arockin Hanover revved up and closed like a gate in the wind to not only overtake the pace-setter, but draw off to an eye-popping 3-3/4^-length tally in 1:51. 

The fast-closing finish by the speedy 5-year-old gelding resulted in his second win in succession, eighth this season and 20^th all time. Gale did the driving for trainer Jason Robinson as the bay son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artaffection raised his career bankroll to more than $377,100 for owner Robert D. Main.

Entering Saturday's $4,500 fourth event as the Vernon record-holder for a 7/8ths-mile clockwise pace off a 1:42.3 effort  in 2011, Noble Wabbit rallied overland from fifth in the early going, advanced to third entering the stretch and then powered home to defeat the pocket-sitting Prince Polaris by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:39.  It was the first win in 2013 for the 10-year-old bay gelding, but his 37^th lifetime score.  MacDonald did the teaming for trainer George Ducharme and owner Heather Reese as the productive son of Precious Bunny-Noble Lady Avalon increased his lifetime earnings to $154,487.

Gale, for the second time during the 86-card Downs campaign, collected four wins on a single program, while it marked the first occasion for MacDonald, a newcomer to the track this season.

Dave Dewhurst, the meet's second-leading trainer with 37 tallies, also harnessed two first-place finishers during the rainy evening.

DOWNS DOINGS— Gary P. Clark, the track's leading provisional pilot at present, recorded his fourth local score after a 1:54.4 trip behind the pacer New York Kitty (owned by he and Fay Clark) in Saturday's second session…The Kenneth Daniels-owned sophomore trotter Southwind Tule chalked up his first pari-mutuel victory following a 2:02.1 performance for trainer and driver Claude Huckabone, III in Saturday's $3,400 third event…Only two live racing dates remain during the track’s 88-card campaign that continues through Nov. 9…Vernon's program for Friday, Nov. 8 will start at 6:45 p.m., but the card for Saturday, Nov. 9, will begin at 6 p.m., and include a coffee mug giveaway, while supplies last, and  a spectacular fireworks display to conclude the track’s 60^th anniversary season….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.