by John Horne for Vernon Downs

Vernon Downs – On opening night at Vernon Downs (May 5), five fillies and mares will compete in the featuredeighth race. Tempus Seelster, a 4-year-old mare, hasbeen installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite. Trained byTony Dinges, the Big Jim mare set a lifetime mark of 1:51.2 at VernonDowns last season.

Chris Lems will hold the reins of the nine-timewinner from post position five. The veteran 7-year-old PurpleN Gold (post position four) is the 5-2 morning line second choice. Trained and driven by John MacDonald, the Hot Pans mare has won 24 racesand earned $152,800 in her career. Rounding out the field are AmericanDancer (Truman Gale, post one), Bad Night Mare (Matthew Adamczyk,post two) and Looney Dune (Ben McNeil, post three).

The first leg of the Robert E. Keller trotting serieswill serve as the Opening Night sub-feature, carded as race two. The 6-5morning line favorite is 3-year-old filly Anja. Trained byDavid Dewhurst and driven by Chris Lems, the Credit Winner filly is looking forher third win in her last four starts. She won her last start atSaratoga, setting a lifetime mark of 1:59. Her main competition comesfrom the three-horse entry of trainer Michael Miller. The trio ofRailroad Lane, Fred Mertz, and American JJ have been installed as the 5-2second choice.

Post time for Opening Night is 6:45 p.m. Calendars and T-shirts will be given out, and fireworks will follow theevening’s last race.

For more information, please visit our website at www.vernondowns.com.