by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The Saratoga invader Alpine Dandy made off with the lion’s share of a $10,000 purse after his 1:52 score in Saturday night’s (August 25) Open-1 pacing feature at Vernon Downs.

Former Vernon seven-time consecutive driving champion (1990-1996) Brian Allen did the teaming in the 11th event as Alpine Dandy raced aggressively from the word “go,” spurting into the lead after an early speed duel with defending local Open champ Dear Old Boy.

The 7-year-old son of Sealed N Delivered remained in charge for the final three-quarters of the mile test, stopping the timer in 1:52 to equal his career record and pick up his third victory in nine season’s starts. The $29,350 he’s returned to the Alpine Meadow Racing Stable after nine current starts has raised his lifetime earnings to more than $429,600.

You Bet Your Glass, owned by trainer Arnie Marks and William Williams, Jr., produced a career-best 1:52.4 victory in Saturday’s $8,000 Open-2 Pace, while Incredible Art, making just his second appearance at the Downs, turned in the fastest mile of the evening, a 1:51.3 tally for owner/trainer Ray Schnittker and his partners Howard Taylor and Ronald Goldman.

Claude Huckabone, Jr. teamed You Bet Your Glass to his third season’s score, while newcomer Gareth Dowse steered Incredible Art to his third current triumph.

Elvis Blue Chip, registered to Frank Mondi and John Zegarelli, became the fastest 2-year-old trotting gelding of Vernon’s 54th campaign after Tony Mondi urged him through a front-striding 2:02.2 triumph in a division of Saturday’s $69,200 New York-bred Late Closing contest for freshman high-steppers. It marked the first win in four outings for the talented son of Credit Winner.

Other divisional winners in the colt/gelding category were Pray For The Gray, in 2:01.1 for driver/trainer Gates Brunet and owners Claire Chappell, Martha Frank and Deborah Brun; Crownprince Volo, in 2:01.4 for driver/trainer/part-owner Brian Cross and his partners, Thomas McTygue, Frank Buffardi and Joanne Foresta, and Step Up, in 2:02.1 for driver/trainer Kevin Gould and the Perry Farm.

Driver/trainer Dan Daley was pleased with his 2:00.4 victory behind Adore Eleanor in Saturday’s final distaff division.

“This is a real nice filly,” said the Vernon-based horseman. “She benefited from a great trip, but when I pulled the trigger on the backstretch, she just dug in and trotted right away from her seven rivals. I’m very pleased for Joann and Joe Thomson, who lease the daughter of Conway Hall.”

The other filly flights went to Alpine Suzie, in 2:00.1 for catch-driver Allen, trainer Harold Reddick, Jr. and the Alpine Meadow Racing contingent, and After Hours, in 2:01.3 for driver/trainer John Stark, Jr. and his ownership partner, Carla Dinova.

Downs Doings: Alpine Dandy’s time was just four-fifths of a second off the track’s record for older pacing horses, while Incredible Art’s clocking missed the track’s standard for older pacing geldings by one second…Veteran driver Ruel (Dude) Goodblood, Jr. celebrated his 52nd birthday on Saturday…The Downs will present an 11-race live card at 6:00 p.m. next Tuesday (August 28) that includes three $10,000 divisions of the Kindergarten Classic Series for 2-year-old trotters…Vernon’s video gaming facility operates from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, while its daily simulcast sessions begin at 11:00 a.m.