Mia's Star wins for sixth time at 2012 season

Mia's Star became the season's winningest equine on the lateral gait after a 1:53.1 spin around the 7/8ths-mile oval at Vernon Down on Thursday night (Aug. 16).

Mia's Star ($4.90) slugged it out with the favorite, Southwest, throughout Thursday's $6,800 ninth race, giving up the lead entering the stretch driver, and then fighting back in the final strides to earn a 1-1/4-length triumph.

Thursday's tough tally was the third in succession, sixth at the 54-program meeting, ninth this season and 14^th all-time for the game-going 4-year-old mare.  Defending driving champion Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Enio Barrera and owner Clayton Faurot, Sr. as the bay daughter of Mach Three-Queen Verda increased her career bankroll to $52,315.

The trotter My Buddy Hall Lee has also recorded six first-place finishes at the Downs this year.

Current driving leader Rick Plano, who achieved his 6,000th career win here the previous evening, posted three wins on Thursday's 10-race card, and now leads in driving doubles, triples and four-win outings at track in 2012.  The 60-year-old horseman completed the card with 89 driving victories and 47 training tallies.

Whittemore also won with Andrea Pratt's trotter Hall Of Mirrors to chalk up his 10^th double at the Downs this season, while 10-time Vernon driving champion Howard Okusko, Jr., who is battling back from off-the-track injuries suffered earlier in the campaign, also visited the winner's circle on two occasions during the program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Okusko, who celebrated his 50^th birthday the previous evening, currently has 1,996 career driving victories.  He is the track's all-time leader in two-minute drives with 1,155…In addition to leading in the three driving categories already mentioned, Plano is tied at one with noted catch-driver Jim Morrill, Jr. in five-win outings at the meet…Morrill and Tim Tetrick are the only reinsmen to have achieved six scores on a single Vernon program thus far in 2012…Friday's 10-race line-up with begin at 6:55 pm… Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.