Vernon Downs is gearing up for Drivers' Championship and State Fair Weekend

Vernon Downs is gearing up to host its first Drivers' Championship during State Fair weekend in Vernon, New York on Sunday, August 26^th.

The Drivers' Championship, which has been a huge hit at Tioga Downs in past years, will be relocated to Vernon for 2012, along with the annual bobblehead giveaway featuring last year's champion, Jody Jamieson. 

As always, bobbleheads will be given away before the races and the drivers participating in the Championship will be on hand for an autograph session and driver meet and greet beginning at 11:45 am on the trackside apron.

If the deadline for the Drivers' Championship were today (which it is not, deadline is Monday, August 6^th) the top seven money winning drivers would be: Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, George Brennan, Ron Pierce, Brian Sears, David Miller, and Dave Palone.

Vernon Downs' leading driver (in earnings) is currently Jim Morrill Jr. and by the looks should finish as the leader in earnings come down to the deadline.

Vernon Downs is proud to invite all owners and horsemen participating at Vernon Downs during the State Fair weekend (August 24 – 26) to be part of their weekend celebration. Vernon will be putting on a carnival like atmosphere at the track all weekend long, holding owner barbeques and cocktail parties before the races, and hosting a free horsemen's golf outing.

The State Fair weekend kicks off on Friday, August 24 with the 2-year-old filly trotters and pacers with a post time of 6:55 pm. There will be an owners barbeque and cocktail reception at the Vernon Downs Founders Park at 5:00 pm before the races.

On Saturday, August 25^th, Vernon Downs will be hosting a free golf outing for all horsemen and owners in the morning (planned tee time: 8:30 am). The tournament will be held at Rome Country Club and will be a four person captain and crew format tournament.

Another barbeque and cocktail reception will be held on Saturday evening at 5:00 pm leading up to the 6:55 pm post for the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers and trotters taking center stage in the State Fair races.

The weekend is capped off with the $700,000 (e) Zweig Trot for 3-year-old trotters, and the $50,000 Drivers' Championship on Sunday, August 26 with a 1:15 pm post time.

Hotel rooms are available at Vernon Downs for the State Fair celebration (August 24 – 26), and all reservations and golf sign ups can be directed to Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast at 607.699.7588 or jsettlemoir@tiogadowns.com .

For more information on Vernon Downs please visit us online at www.vernondowns.com.

High Speed Life powers home to post lifetime best win

High Speed Life came alive in the homestretch and turned a pocket-sitting trip into a career-fastest 1:51.4 victory in Saturday night's $10,500 featured Open pace at Vernon Downs.

Trainer Roman Lopez did the teaming in Saturday's ninth race, keeping High Speed Life ($14.60) in the desired two slot behind the pace-setting Forty Carrots until the final furlong, where she rallied to defeat the on-rushing Yankees In Six by a head.

Saturday's score was the fourth locally, the sixth this season and the 27^th all-time for the energetic 6-year-old daughter of Lease On Life-Nano, who is shared in ownership by Lopez and Mitchell Frair. 

Saturday's swiftest score over a track dulled to "good" by rain was turned in by No Monkeys Allowed, who came from off the pace to equal his lifetime record with a 1:51.2 mile in the evening's $8,000 first event.  Brian Connor, who earned his first triple of the 44-program meet during the 11-race card, did the teaming for trainer Edgar Clarke and the Robert J. Orr/Garry J. Jonas ownership duo.  It marked the first Vernon victory, but the fifth season's tally for the bay battler, who now sports 13 career wins and earnings of more than $178,000.

Chris Lems also logged three first-place driving victories, plus a training triumph, during the program, while Lopez notched a pair of sulky scores and a training tally.

DOWNS DOINGS—Racing Secretary Scott Warren has instituted a five percent across-the-board purse increase for all "overnight" classes at the Downs…Leading driver Rick Plano (70 local scores in 2012) won the eighth event with Jeffrey Gillis's pacer Fish Tales and now needs just 17 more first-place finishes to reach 6,000 career victories…The Downs will present live racing Wednesday-Saturday next week starting at 6:55 p.m…The track will offer a new handicapping contest during its final four Wednesday programs of the season (Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22)…The Downs will host a New York Sire Stakes sponsored contest for 2-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday night, Aug. 8… Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Isabella Gal displayed her speed and superiority with a 1:56.2 triumph in the fastest of eight divisions during Thursday night's $182,186 program for New York-bred 2-year-old trotting fillies at Vernon Downs.

Competing in the second division of Thursday's $118,286 regular New York Sire Stakes, Isabella Gal earned her second straight score with a career-best performance in the ninth race that was just 2/5ths-of-a-second off the Vernon record for this age, sex and gait.  Jim Morrill, Jr. did the steering for part-owner and trainer Jeffrey Long as the brown daughter of Rc Royalty-Tango Hall took over the lead from Single Sock after the half, timed in :57.3, and motored to a 3-3/4 length tally over the on-rushing Crazy Grigio.

The determined distaffer has accumulated two wins and a second, plus earnings of $26,146 for Long and his partners John Buettner, Robert and Lynn Brooks.

Thursday's other NYSS winners were Palm Beach Chic (Conway Hall-Back On Track), in 1:58 with part-owner Jeff Gregory driving for his partner William H. Richardson and trainer Linda Toscano, and Barn Babe (Cash Hall-My Baby's Momma), in 1:59.4 with John Cummings, Jr. at the controls for owner and trainer Steven Pratt.  

New Scent (1:59.4) and Pretty Crazy (1:59.4) tied for fastest mile honors in Thursday's $63,900 Excelsior Series segments.  New Scent (Malabar Man-Dior Kosmos) earned her maiden victory with Jimmy Whittemore driving for owner/trainer Joseph Flynn and Edward Flynn, while Pretty Crazy (Crazed-Pretty May Flowers) was securing her third tally in four tries with Morrill, Jr. teaming for trainer Brandon Simpson and his ownership partners Peggy Hood, Dirk Simpson and the Mystical Marker Farms.

Also finishing first in Thursday's Excelsior events were There Goes My Baby (Malabar Man-Hot Chili Girl) in 2:00.4 with Chris Lems driving for trainer George Ducharme, and owners Paul Fontaine and Alfred Ross; Dancing Louisa (Rc Royalty-Supreme Decision), in 2:01.1 with trainer Dan Daley teaming for Todd Van Alstyne and Margaret Waterbury, and Vixen (Conway Hall-Gracious Marla) with Stephane Bouchard steering for trainer David Jannone and owners Albert C & Michelle C. Crawford, and James A. Crawford, IV.

Elleofnxample kicked home from fourth at the head of the stretch to nip the mile-cutting Pay Tribute by a neck in Thursday's $10,500 first race, the week's Open for female pacers.  Todd Frocione drove for his dad, owner Lon Frocione, and trainer Tony Mondi as the fleet-footed 6-year-old mare equaled her 1:51.4 lifetime mark while recording her fourth season’s score and 18^th lifetime victory.

DOWNS DOINGS—Barn Babe, competing in the rain and over a good track in race 11, now shows two wins and a pair of seconds in four career outings…Dancing Louisa has collected two wins and a second in three Excelsior starts…There Goes My Baby, New Scent, Palm Beach Chic and Vixen were each compiling their initial pari-mutuel victory…Vernon Racing Secretary Scott Warren has announced a five percent purse increase for all of Vernon’s overnight classes that will take effect immediately…Friday’s 10-race program will begin at 6:55 p.m…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

My Buddy Hall Lee becomes winningest horse at Vernon Downs meet

Ritascape became the fastest 2-year-old pacing filly of the 43-program pari-mutual meeting, while the trotter My Buddy Hall Lee became the winningest local equine of 2012 during Friday night's 10-race program at Vernon Downs.

Making just her second official start, Ritascape displayed fast form during her come-from-behind 1:56.3 victory in Friday's third event, while My Buddy Hall Lee extended the meet's longest winning streak to five with his 1:57.1 triumph in the evening's sixth session.

With Jimmy Whittemore driving for trainer Homer Hochstetler, the favorite Ritascape ($3.20) rallied from third in the final quarter and closed from second in the stretch to satisfy her backers.  The time was 2/5ths-of-a-second slower than her qualifying win here on June 29.  The bay daughter of Artiscape-Rita J is shared in ownership by South Of The Tracks Racing, Inc., Connie and Homer Hochstetler.

The crowd's wagering choice My Buddy Hall Lee ($5.60) also came from behind to continue his winning skein and separate himself from nine other four-time winners at the meet.  Roman Lopez guided the 4-year-old son of Roadshow Hall-Exclusive Lee into contention with a three-wide move from seventh on the backstretch, and then rushed him home from third in the stretch to catch and nip the pace-setting Jam And Jelly by a head. 

My Buddy Hall Lee's tally was his fifth of the season and sixth all-time.  Leopold Sawyers conditions the gritty gelding for owner Brett Tessler.

The 3-year-old gelded pacer Head Of The Barn recorded the evening's fastest mile, a career-best 1:56 triumph in race nine.  Trainer Frank Milby did the teaming for owner Irwin Samelman as the son of Cambest-Head Of The House compiled his first career victory.

Lopez, driver Frank Davis and trainer Hochstetler each achieved two wins during the program.     

DOWNS DOINGS—Vernon's current colt mark for 2-year-old pacers is 1:57.2, set by Delaware Hanover (Milby driving) on June 23…Saturday's 11-race program, which includes the week's $10,500 Open pace, will begin at 6:55 p.m. and featured the track's annual T-shirt giveaway…The Downs will host a New York Sire Stakes sponsored contest for 2-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday night, Aug. 8… Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Dreamanotherdream wins 4th race of 2012 Vernon Downs season

The favorite Dreamanotherdream became the ninth four-time winning equine of the season at Vernon Downs following his 1:55.3 victory in Wednesday night's $8,000 featured Winners Over trot.

Racing fifth at the half, reached in :57-flat, Dreamanotherdream ($3.50) got geared up around the final bend, took charge entering the payoff patch and sped off to a 7-1/2 length decision in the evening's eighth event.

It marked the fourth tally in the last five starts (all locally) for the speedy 6-year-old son of Dream Vacation-Another Choice, who is trained by Edgar Clarke and owned by Denis Goyette.  With Brian Connor doing the teaming, the 20-time career winner raised his lifetime earnings to $104,798.

Connor collected two wins during Wednesday's 10-race program, as did drivers Chris Lems, Jimmy Whittemore and trainer Dennis Whittemore.

Also becoming four-time winning Standardbreds for 2012 during the track's 41^st program were the trotter She's All In (1:57) and pacer Cheap N Easy (1:53).  They joined with the meet's other four-time winners Oozie's Bad Boy, Miracle Freeluck, She Don't Know (all pacers), as well as trotters Yankee Manny, My Buddy Hall Lee and Whispur.  No equine has earned more than four first-time finishes at the Downs thus far this season.  

DOWNS DOINGS—The 3-year-old trotter Ike's Revenge recorded his initial pari-mutuel victory after a 2:01.1 outing in Wednesday's $3,000 third event…Lems and Whittemore are presently tied for second in two-win performances at the Downs with eight, three off the pace set by leading driver Rick Plano…Thursday night's 12-race Vernon program will begin at 6:55 p.m., and include three New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old filly trotters, as well as five flights of the Excelsior series for New York-breds of the same age, sex and gait…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Forty Carrots shines in Saturday feature

The stalking pacer Forty Carrots rallied late to win Saturday night's $8,000 featured seventh race at Vernon Downs.

Luke Plano, doing the catch-driving for trainer Ray Van Dreason for the first time, guided Forty Carrots ($16.80) into the two slot behind the pace-setting Mystical Valentine early in Saturday's featured "Winners Over" contest.  The determined duo then drafted along until the final furlong, where the 5-year-old horse unleashed a strong closing kick that enabled him to defeat the mile cutter by a neck in a 1:52 mile.

Although Saturday's score was the first locally this season for the bay son of Riverboat King-Mathamonics, it marked his 10^th victory of 2012 and his 24^th all time.  The career earner of $267,599 is shared in ownership by Richard Clair and Lance Gordon.

The Plano family captured eight of Saturday's 11 races.  Father Rick collected six scores for the third time at the 40-program meeting, while son Luke landed in the winner's circle on two occasions. 

The elder Plano ended Vernon's four-night live racing schedule with 10 triumphs and currently leads Chris Lems by 16 victories in the track's 2012 driving derby.  He also snared five training tallies during the week to pull within six scores of defending champ Tracy Brainard.  

DOWNS DOINGS—One of Rick Plano's Saturday scores was for trainer Brainard, while two others were behind pacers owned by his wife, Maryann…Luke Plano's initial double at the meet came in races six (Rodeo Du Ruisseau) and seven…Provisional driver Brandon Loomis of Oneida secured his third win of the meet after teaming Heather Macmaster's 4-year-old pacer Renier De Vie to a 1:56.2 tally in race two…Richelle Reynolds was named Miss Vernon Downs for 2012 in a promotional contest during Saturday's program…The Downs will offer live racing at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday next week…Vernon's pari-mutuel department will present afternoon and evening simulcasts at the track Wednesday-Sunday starting tomorrow (July 22), and continuing through Labor Day (Sept. 3).  Monday and Tuesday simulcasts will continue to take place in the hotel at Vernon Downs…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

Whispur wins for fourth time this season

The streaking trotter Whispur became the sixth four-time winning equine of the season at Vernon Downs following a 1:57 triumph in Friday night's $4,500 sixth event.

With Claude Huckabone, III handling the lines for trainer/owner Tracy Brainard, the favorite Whispur ($3.50) advanced from fifth at the quarter and seized the lead before the half, timed in :59.1.  The gritty gelding stayed in charge throughout the final four furlongs and won by more than two lengths.

It was the third tally in succession, fourth in the last five starts here, and seventh all-time for the 6-year-old son of Pegasus Spur-Ba Terrific Lindy, who increased his total prize money to $23,974.

Leading driver Rick Plano posted his meet-leading 11^th driving double during Friday's 10-race program, including a 1:59.1 score with his wife's (Maryann) trotter Damian Carlos N in Friday's $5,100 seventh session. 

Driver Brian Connor also collected a pair of victories during the track's 39^th program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Brainard, the track's defending training champ, is the current conditioning leader here with 39 first-place finishes…The meet's other four-time winning equines include the trotters Yankee Manny My Buddy Hall Lee, and pacers Oozie's Bad Boy, Miracle Freeluck and She Don't Know…Earning their initial pari-mutuel victories during Friday's program were the trotter AG Smart Alec (2:02), as well as the pacers Jeremy P Hanover (1:58.1) and Jokerman (1:57.1)… The 2012 Miss Vernon Downs pageant will be part of Saturday's 11-race program that will begin at 6:55 p.m…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.