Glam Cam comes through as favorite in Thursday feature

The hard-charging pacer Glam Cam didn't disappoint her backers in Thursday night's featured first race at Vernon Downs, posting a 1:52.3 victory.

Going off as the favorite in Thursday's $10,500 Open for laterally-gaited females, Glam Cam ($3.00) gathered momentum from fourth at the quarter before sweeping into the lead with fast and frisky move approaching the three-quarter mile mark. 

With veteran trainer Chuck Connor, Jr. at the controls, the 6-year-old daughter of Camotion-Cr Charisma opened up a six-length advantage entering the final furlong, and then coasted to a two-length triumph.  It marked the second Vernon victory this season, the fourth in 2012 and her 14th all-time tally.  Robert J. Lovett owns the career winner of $90,878, who came within three ticks of the timer of her lifetime speed mark.

It was one of two tallies during Thursday's nine-race program for Connor, Jr., who has earned three wins in five local appearances this season.  The 57-year-old horseman currently ranks third on Vernon's all-time list for "two-minute" driving miles with 822.

Driver Rick Plano also piloted a pair of first-place finishers during the track's 38^th program, raising his meet leading total to 62.   

DOWNS DOINGS—Plano leads in two-win programs at the Downs this year with 10…The Homer Hochstetler trained and driven 2-year-old colt trotter Semper Fit notched his second pari-mutuel victory in succession with a bold striding 1:58 performance in Thursday's sixth session…Wilbur Hammond, Jr.'s 3-year-old colt trotter Rockway earned his first career victory with a neck decision over Sweet Sally in the evening's fifth race…The Downs will hold its annual Diamond Dig promotion as part of Friday's 10-race program that will get underway at 6:55 p.m…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Manningly breaks through with Open Trot win

Following a pair of second-place finishes and a third in three prior performances here this season, Manningly managed to secure his first Open trot tally in Wednesday night's feature at Vernon Downs.

Leaving from post three against five formidable rivals in Wednesday's $10,500 sixth race, Manningly ($5.90) rallied to the lead from third at the quarter and, once in charge, continued on to a 1-3/4 length tally over newcomer Man About Town. 

Chris Lems earned his seventh double at the 37-program meeting as the 6-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Balanced Action collected his third season's score and 16^th lifetime victory.  Veteran Larry Rathbone conditions the career winner of more than $281,300 for the M&L Of Delaware, LLC stable.

Wednesday's $8,000 ninth race, a "Winners Over" trot went to Photosmart in a career-best 1:55.4 performance.  Owner/trainer Angus Mac Donald drove the 6-year-old gelding to his second current win and 15^th lifetime triumph.

Driver Rick Plano prevailed in two of Wednesday's 10 races and increased his meet leading win total to 60.

DOWNS DOINGS—Plano leads in driving doubles at the meet with nine…The veteran pacing mare She Don't Know increased her current victory streak to three and became the meet's fifth four-time winning equine (third on the lateral gait) after a 1:54.3 showing in Wednesday's second session… Brookroad Knight's 1:53.4 track record performance (3-year-old trotting geldings) on July 11 marks the eighth track standard that has been altered at the Downs thus far this season, fourth on the diagonal gait…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Oriental Carpet Rolls to feature win; Plano wins 5

Oriental Carpet rolled to a career-fastest 1:52 featured race win, while leading driver Rick Plano piled up five first-place credits during Saturday night's 11-race program at Vernon Downs.

The fourth wagering choice in Saturday's $8,000 "Winners Over" contest, Oriental Carpet ($22.60) tucked in behind the pace-setting favorite Mach My Word going to the quarter, and remained in the garden spot until the final stages of the sixth race before rallying to record a neck triumph over the frisky mile-cutter.

Howard Okusko, Jr., who was injured earlier in the season, returned to the sulky for his wife, trainer Jessica Okusko, and patiently guided the 4-year-old son of Artiscape-Silksndiamonds to his second local win this year, third tally of 2012 and seventh lifetime score.  The career-winner of $43,627 is shared in ownership by Conrad Zurich, Edwin Gold and Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables.

Plano produced victories in the third (Fast Heat in 1:56), fifth (Where's Waldo in 1:53), seventh (Fish Tales in 1:53.2), ninth (Oozie's Bad Boy in 1:52.1) and 11^th (Winbak Way in 1:55.1) events to bump his win total for the 36-program meet to 58, 10 more than runner-up Chris Lems.

Two of Plano's first-place finishes (Where's Waldo and Fish Tales) were behind pacers conditioned by the meet's top trainer and defending champ, Tracy Brainard, who hiked her victory total for the meet to 37.

The 60-year-old horseman also collected a training tally during the evening (Oozie's Bad Boy), and currently trails only Brainard by eight wins on Vernon's conditioning chart.    

DOWNS DOINGS—Only Tim Tetrick and Jim Morrill, Jr., with six wins each, have recorded more victories on a single Vernon card to date in 2012, the former on May 19 and the latter on May 25 and again on June 1…Through July 14, the pacers Oozie's Bad Boy, Miracle Freeluck, and trotters Yankee Manny and My Buddy Hall Lee are tied for the lead in equine victories at the meet with four each…The Downs will begin another week of Wednesday-Saturday live racing at 6:55 p.m. on July 18…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Skyway Major posts career-best mile on Friday

Skyway Major earned a 1:54.1 career-best record and posted his fourth victory of the season in Friday night's sixth race at Vernon Downs.

Making his first official appearance over Vernon's 7/8ths-mile oval, Skyway Major ($9.20) launched an overland rally from fourth at the quarter that placed him in the lead turning for home.  He drew off for a 4-1/2 length victory over the betting favorite Circus Dreamer.

Roman Lopez did the driving for trainer Sam Serianni as the slick-striding 4-year-old pacing son of Art Major-Allamerican Mona posted his seventh lifetime victory.  Donald Friedman and James Bernstein own the career-winner of more than $28,500.

Leading driver Rick Plano chalked up two victories during Friday's 11-race card, as did Greg Merton and Claude Huckabone, III.

DOWNS DOINGS—Raymond J, another talented son of Art Major, improved his sophomore record to 3-3-1 after seven starts with a 1:54.3 victory for driver Plano, trainer Bob Bloodgood and owner Ken Jacobs in Friday's fifth event…The trotter Majestic Splash (2:02.3) and pacer Artemax (1:55.4) each produced their initial career victories during Friday's program...Vernon will conclude its "Back To The Track" weekend promotion with Saturday night's 11-race card, that includes a handicapping contest in which some lucky fan will win a trip to the Little Brown Jug, the Standardbred sport's premier event for 3-year-old pacers.  First post will be at 6:55 p.m.…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

She Don't Know Posts Fastest Mile on Thursday night

She Don’t Know earned fastest-mile-of-the-program honors on Thursday night at Vernon Downs.

Competing in the $5,000 eighth event, She Don't Know ($8.10) rallied on the outside from third in the early going, and then came on rapidly in the final–sixteenth to earn a nose triumph over the favorite, Moon Lake.

She Don't Know (far side) posts the fastest mile on Thursday

She Don't Know has certainly figured out where the finish line is, having earned two win in a row, three at the 34-card Vernon meeting and nine this season.  Frank Milby drove for trainer Richard Robertson, Jr. and owner Bill Reepmeyer as the 8-year-old daughter of Space Shuttle-Dandy's Dream secured her 37^th lifetime victory and raised her all-time earnings to $134,783.

Donna Party posted a 1:55.4 score in Thursday's fifth race that stretched her current winning streak to three, tying fellow pacers Cheap N Easy, Oozie's Bad Boy and Lightning Prince for top honors in that category for representative of the lateral gait.  Jimmy Whittemore did the steering for his father, trainer Dennis Whittemore, and owners Elliot Misshula and Richard Fielding.

The precocious freshman homebred trotting colt Semper Fit (American Native-Colors Of The Wind) was impressive during a front striding, comfortable 1:57.4 triumph in Thursday's sixth session that resulted in his initial career trip to the winner's circle.  Trainer Homer Hochstetler drove for owners Connie Hochstetler (the talented youngster's breeder) and Robert Buddig. 

Defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore delivered two tallies during Thursday's 10-race program as did driver Roman Lopez.  

DOWNS DOINGS—The trotter My Buddy Hall Lee logged his fourth win in a row here on July 4…The Downs will present an 11-race card at 6:55 p.m. tomorrow as it kicks off its "Back To The Track" promotional weekend with a hat giveaway...Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Delano and Brookroad Knight capture NYSS events on Wednesday night

Delano and Brookroad Knight continued their winning ways during Wednesday night's $132,236 New York Sires Stakes feature for 3-year-old male trotters at Vernon Downs.

The crowd's choice Delano ($3.30) delivered his third straight NYSS score with a 1:55 performance in Wednesday's seventh session, while Brookroad Knight ($15.40) upset the favorite Coraggioso with a career-best 1:53.4 effort in the ninth race.

Delano holds off Trouble to win in 1:55

Trainer Ray Schnittker, who owns Delano along with Tom Vassiliou, Nicholas Tallarico and the Delano Stable, was at the controls as the son of Credit Winner-Kelly Hall took command in the first turn and remained in charge the rest of the way, holding off a late-charge by Trouble to earn a half-length score.  Mado Dream was another half-length back in third.

The quick-striding mile, which was one tick of the timer off Delano's record, was the brown colt's fourth score in six season's starts.  It lifted his lifetime winnings to more than $344,100.

Brookroad Knight's fast-closing achievement was his second NYSS score in succession and second of the Vernon campaign.  Jim Morrill, Jr. did the steering for trainer Bruce Borden and owner John W. O’Connor as the oily-gaited son of Cr Excalibur-Questionable Lady advanced from fifth in the early going, and then closed from second at the head of the stretch to pass and defeat Coraggioso by 1-1/4 lengths.  The victory, his third this season and eighth all time, raised his lifetime earnings to more than $134,000.

Brookroad Knight delivers a career-best performance

Abundanceofcredit and Barnegat Lane shared speediest mile honors in Wednesday's $51,200 Excelsior Series contest for NY-bred sophomore colt and gelding trotters. 

Abundanceofcredit (Credit Winner-Melissa Hall) earned his initial season's score and second career win with a career-best 1:57.1 showing in Wednesday's second race, while Barnegat Lane also logged his first win of 2012 and second lifetime score with a 1:57.1 personal-best mile in the third event. 

Wednesday's other Excelsior Series victors were Cash Value (Cash Hall-Minnesota Chelsea) in 1:58.1 and Southwind Strobe (Equinox Bi-Soxeelady) in 1:58.2.

Red Star Hottie, Morrill, Jr. teaming for trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and the Burke Racing Stable, turned in a bold-going 1:51.4 mile to captured Wednesday's $10,500 sixth session, the week's Open test for female pacers.

Morrill, Jr. earned his third triple of the 33-card local meeting, while former Downs regular Jeff Gregory notched a pair of first-place finishes during Wednesday's 11-race program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Brookroad Knight's time missed Archangel's track record for 3-year-old colt trotters by three-fifths-of-a-second…The victory by Southwind Strobe marked his first career trip to the winner's circle…Vernon will present a 10-race card at 6:55 on Thursday night, as the "Change Your Luck/Dollar Night" promotion returns…The Downs will continue to offer 6:55 p.m. Wednesday programs to its live racing schedule for the remainder of July and August...Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

TIRADE HANOVER IS A 2-YEAR-OLD TO WATCH IN NEW YORK

New York Sire Stakes featured on this week’s “Inside Harness Racing”

VERNON, NY – Tirade Hanover, a 2-year-old trotting colt from the first crop of Crazed, stamped himself as one to watch with an impressive win last week in the opening leg of the New York Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs in 1:57.

Tirade Hanover, trained by Tyler Raymer, is featured on this week's episode of "Inside Harness Racing." The program airs today (Wednesday) at 6:00 PM and again at 10:30 PM on Time Warner Cable Sports throughout Upstate New York. The show can also be seen each week on HPI TV in Canada. Viewers can also watch every episode online at the Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/tiogadowns).

Tirade Hanover cost just $10,000 as a yearling at Harrisburg, but has shown a high level of professionalism from day one.

"I think probably the biggest strength he has is he's good mannered," says veteran driver Howard Parker. "He’s got a good turn of foot."

With recent temperatures reaching the 90s and even the low 100s in some areas, Wendy Ross explores how trainers keep their horses cool and competitive in the summer heat.

Plus, leading amateur driver David Yarock discusses the new GSY Amateur Driving Series, which made a stop at Tioga Downs over the weekend.

Here's the full episode of this week's "Inside Harness Racing"