Photo Finish in Thursday Vernon Downs Feature

Keep It Fair used a head bob in the final stride to earn a slim victory in Thursday night’s $12,000 featured 10th race at Vernon Downs.

Sixth (and last) at the ¾-mile mark, Keep It Fair ($22.40) staged a late rally in the homestretch that eventually gained her a head victory over All Spirit in the week’s top Miracle Mile contest for female pacers.

Diva Delight, last week’s winner in this class, finished third.

Thursday’s 1:53.1 career-best performance resulted in the fifth season’s score and the eight lifetime win for the bay daughter of Art Major-Direct Service, who increased her lifetime earnings to $111,325.

Driver Jimmy Whittemore owns the 4-year-old mare, while his father, Dennis, does the conditioning.

Whittemore, the track’s defending driving champ, collected three tallies during Thursday’s 12-race card to increase his win total to 114 after 82 programs.

Ray Fisher, Jr. also posted a driving triple, while two-time local provisional champ Chris Lems logged a driving double.

Claude Huckabone, III secured his 1,992nd career victory after steering the Dee Johnson-trained pacer Rosa Villa, owned by Donald Stockwell and Steven Guido, to a 1:55.2 tally in Thursday’s seventh race.

DOWNS DOINGS—The 2-year-old filly pacer Skylark Hanover improved her summary line to 2-1-2 after eight starts following a career-best 1:53.4 triumph in Thursday’s second race. Whittemore drove for trainer Richard Mathurin, Jr. and the Ram Racing Stables…Top trainer Tracy Brainard raised her win total to 63 after the pacer Town Gigolo, which she owns along with Andrew Herzog, won the sixth race with Jack Rice doing the steering…Friday’s 12-race card, which includes the week’s top Miracle Mile trotting events, will begin at 6:55 p.m.

Brothers Both Win on Friday Night at Vernon Downs

Newcomer Lord Burghley made his first Vernon Downs venture a winning one in Friday night’s $12,000 featured ninth race.

With Jack Rice doing the driving for owner and trainer Tracy Brainard, Lord Burghley ($4.40) raced on the lead throughout the week’s Miracle Mile-1 contest for representatives of the diagonal gait and drew off in the lane for a three-length victory.

The career-best 1:54.2 performance resulted in the second win in succession, the sixth this season and the 16th overall for the 9-year-old bay son of Armbro Invasion-Lady Of Substance, who raised his career winnings to nearly $129,000.

Mystic Splendor continued his winning ways in the evening’s MM-2 confrontation, posting a front striding 1:56.3 victory in race eight that became his third first-place finish in succession and fifth in 2010.

Howard Okusko, Jr. handled the reins for trainer Jessica Okusko, who owns the 4-year-old trotting horse with Kenneth Finnerty.

In somewhat of a unique occurrence, Mystic Splendor’s older full-brother Electronic Chip (Giant Hit-Mystic Virtue) captured Friday’s seventh session with a fast-closing 1:58.1 mile.

Okusko also did the steering for his wife, Jessica, the 7-year-old gelding’s lessee.

In addition to the Okuskos, driver Jimmy Whittemore also collected a pair for wins during Friday’s 11-race program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Whittemore trails leading driver Josh Marks 125-110 with 10 programs remaining in the track’s 57th season…Brainard enjoys a 62-54 lead over Jessica Okusko in current training triumphs… Frank Davis earned his fourth provisional driving victory at the meet after a 1:54.2 effort behind his pacer Art’s Image in Friday’s fourth event…Saturday night’s 12-race card, which features the week’s top MM pacing events, will begin at 6:55 p.m. and include a Pumpkin Patch giveaway.

Vernon Downs Announces Purse Increase

Vernon Downs is proud to announce that, due to the increased volume in slot play at the Vernon Downs Casino, which is up 12%, the purses as of last weekend have been raised 20% and will continue at this level through the end of the meet.

The 2010 Vernon Downs race meet comes to a close on Saturday, November 20th and races Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through the end of October and then switches to a Friday, Saturday schedule in November.

All post times for Vernon Downs are at 6:55 pm (EDT), and more information on the Casino, Hotel, and Racetrack can be found online at www.vernondowns.com.

Diva Delight Captures Top Miracle Mile Test

Diva Delight delivered a front-striding 1:55.1 victory in Thursday night’s $12,000 featured 10th event at Vernon Downs.

On a raw, rainy fall evening and over a good track, Diva Delight ($7.90) cut out fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:26.2 en route to a one-length victory over Won Night Stand in the week’s top Miracle Mile test for female pacers.

The favorite, All Spirit, finished third.

Thursday’s bold-going tally was the third at the meet, the fifth this season and the 26th lifetime for the 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Mallbreaker, who increased her all-time bankroll to $241,296.

Ray Fisher, Jr. did the driving for trainer Jim Perry and owners William J. and Jack M. Heinz.

Driver Claude Huckabone, III teamed the first-place finishers in races four through six to secure his third triple of the 79-program local campaign, and increase his career win total to 1,988.

Fisher won the eighth event to record his initial double during the track’s 57th meeting.

Gary Gibson, 20-year-old son of Vernon’s late three-time dash-winning driving champion of the same name, earned his first pari-mutuel victory after he steered Geoffrey Zimmer’s pacer Pounne De Luxe to a 1:56.4 triumph in Thursday’s first race.

DOWNS DOINGS—Leading trainer Tracy Brainard hiked her win total to 61 after her pacer Bilmar Diva prevailed in Thursday’s 12th event…Friday’s 11-race program, which features the weekend’s top Miracle Mile trotting races, will begin at 6:55 p.m.

4 Juveniles Crowned Late Closer Champions at Vernon Downs

The 2-year-olds Mosee Terror, Dreamy Dawn, Winona and Forty Three were each crowned New York Sires Stakes late-closing champions, while another state-bred titleist, Blacktuxwhitesocks, captured Friday night’s top division of the Miracle Mile trot at Vernon Downs.

With Chris Lems driving for trainer Paul Reid and the Baron Racing Stable, Mosee Terror turned in a solid six length score in Friday’s $30,000 fourth race, the Empire state’s late-closing final for freshman male pacers.

The career-best 1:56 tally marked the third straight victory for the bay son of Western Terror-Shimmer, who improved his season’s summary to 4-1-2 and earnings to $40,474 after nine starts.

Lems was also at the controls when Dream Dawn delivered an 8-1/2-length triumph in Friday’s $30,000 fifth event, the late-closing final for 2-year-old filly trotters.

The 2:01.3 mile resulted in the fourth straight victory for the brown daughter of Dream Vacation-Divine Eos, who now sports a record of seven wins and a second-place finish in 10 trips to the track.

Ed Lohmeyer conditions the winner of $109,441 for Lohmeyer LLC.

With Howard Okusko, Jr. teaming for his dad, trainer Howard, Sr., and the Perry Racing Stable, Winona became the fastest freshman trotting gelding at the meet following a personal best 2:01.4 triumph in Friday’s $30,000 sixth session, the late-closing title test for first year male trotters.

It was the second win in succession for the bay son of Dream Vacation-Teola, who has chalked up a 4-1-1 performance line and earnings of $39,646 in six starts.

Forty Three completed the frosh late-closing finals with a 1:57.1 showing in Friday’s $30,000 seventh session that equaled her career win mark.

Jimmy Whittemore did the steering for trainer Adam Capizzano and Indigo Racing LLC as the bay daughter of American Ideal-Lake Hills Susie defeated eight female pacing rivals en route to her seventh win (plus three seconds) and earnings of $40,044 after 11 appearances.

Fresh off a 1:56.3 victory in the $200,000 NYSS championship race for sophomore male trotters at Yonkers on Sept. 25, Blacktuxwhitesocks defeated four opponents with a 1:57 effort in Friday’s $12,000 10th contest.

The talented brown son of Credit Winner-True Blue Victory has recorded 10 wins, a second-place finish, three thirds, plus winnings of more than $295,800 in 15 season’s showings.

Okusko, Jr. handled the career-winner of $455,940 for his wife, trainer Jessica Okusko, and Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables.

Okusko, Jr. recorded four first-place finishes during Friday’s 12-race card, while his wife was credited with three training triumphs.

Chris Lems turned in a driving double, while owner/trainer Scott West visited the winner’s circle on two occasions during the track’s 77th program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Scott’s Cool Touch became the second-winningest trotter at the meet following a 1:59 trip over a sloppy track in Friday’s third race. It was his seventh score at the Downs this year. Fox Valley Majesty leads the division with eight trotting triumphs…Defending training champ Okusko is currently second in conditioning credits with 50 first-place finishes. Tracy Brainard leads this category with 59 wins…Saturday night’s 12-race card, which features the week’s top Miracle Mile pacing events, will begin at 6:55 pm.

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

Defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore celebrated his 28th birthday with five first-place finishes, including a 1:55.2 triumph with Keep It Fair in Thursday night’s $10,800 featured 10th event at Vernon Downs.

After registering earlier victories with Streeter, Lovely Magic and Final Time, owner Whittemore kept Keep It Fair ($3.60) back in fourth place while Won Night Stand led the field though the three-quarter mark in 1:27.3 on a sloppy track.

After moving up to second in the final bend, the Maine native urged his 4-year-old charge to the front entering the homestretch and they drew off for a five-length score in the weekend’s top Miracle Mile test for female pacers.

It was the fifth season’s score and seventh lifetime tally for the bay daughter of Art Major-Direct Service, who raised her lifetime winnings to $104,365. Whittemore’s father, Dennis, does the conditioning.

Whittemore went on to capture the 11th race with Lekka to record his second five-win outing at the 76-program meeting.

Drivers Ruel “Dude” Goodblood, Jr. and Claude Huckabone, Jr. also posted a pair of victories during Thursday’s 12-race card.

DOWNS DOINGS—Whittemore’s previous five-win outing was Sept. 18…Only leading driver Josh Marks has won more races (seven) on a single Vernon program this season…Whittemore currently trails Marks by 20 wins with 14 programs remaining in the track’s 57th season…Fox Valley Majesty’s win in Thursday’s ninth event (Huckabone steering for owner and leading trainer Tracy Brainard) was his eighth at the meet, tops among trotters and tying him with the pacers Up Front Rudy and Saranac Hanover for most equine tallies to date…Friday night’s 12-race line-up includes four $30,000 New York late-closing championship finals for 2-year-olds. First post will be at 6:55 p.m.

Freshman Late Closer Finals on Tap Friday Night at Vernon Downs

Four $30,000 New York Bred late closer finals will highlight a 12-race Friday night card at historic Vernon Downs.

In the New York Late Closer Final for 2-year old trotting fillies, Dreamy Dawn has been give the nod as the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Ed Lohmeyer and catch driver Chris Lems.

Dreamy Dawn is coming into the final off of an easy victory in the $50,000 Fall Harvest at Yonkers Raceway on October 2nd, where she was victorious in 1:59.4.

The 2-year old daughter of Dream Vacation – Divine EOS sports a career record of six wins and one second from nine outings behind the starting gate, with earnings of more than $96,000 and a mark of 1:59 taken at Batavia Downs in a New York Sire Stakes event.

In the $30,000 Final for 2-year old pacing fillies, All About Kisses has been assigned the 5-2 morning line favorite spot.

The 2-year old daughter of Pro Bono Best – Cheerful Outlook came first over in her last start in the $50,000 Fall Harvest at Yonkers, but tired in the stretch after sticking a head in front, but could only save fifth place money.

Chuck Connor Jr. will do the driving for his wife Jannice Connor who trains and co-owns the filly with Albert and Michelle Crawford of New York.

Vernon Downs kicks off its weekend of racing on Thursday, October 14th with a post time of 6:55 pm.