by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Newberry Winner lived up to his name with a strong first place finish in Tuesday night’s (June 19) $3,570 featured pace at Vernon Downs.

Leaving from the inside post position in Tuesday’s sixth race, Newberry Winner darted into the lead and never looked back en route to an impressive 1:56.1 triumph over eight rivals on a track made “sloppy” by electrifying afternoon storms. The 1-1/4 length score was the third at the meet for the 3-year-old daughter of Village Jove, owned by Rocco Manzi and Paul Tandlmayer. Jimmy Whittemore did the catch driving for trainer Lonny Hale.

In a fast-closing performance for driver Dave Fisher and his wife, trainer Mary Fisher, Butterscotch Swirl captured Tuesday’s $3,570 top trotting test. Sixth at the half, the 4-year-old gelding rallied overland and closed from third in the homestretch to defeat Wild Goose Lodge by 1-1/4 lengths in a 2:02.1 mile. It marked the first tally in six current attempts for the son of Credit Winner, who is owned by the Two Peas In A Pod Stable.

Downs Doings: Chip Zombick earned his first driving victory since suffering a badly broken ankle and wrist in a Vernon racing mishap early last fall when he teamed the pacer Miss Robin’s Magic to a career best 2:01.2 victory in Tuesday’s first race for owners Myron Ekstein, and Mike and Bill Pozefsky…Adam Capizzano took the lead in the meet’s provisional driving derby with a 1:58 triumph behind the Purple Haze Stable’s pacer Rodeo Man in Tuesday’s seventh race. It was the fourth score this season for Capizzano, who has a one win edge over Don Simmonds and Chris Lems…Dave Dewhurst enjoys a 21-20 advantage over Lonny Hale in total wins among trainers at the Downs this season…Vernon will offer a 10-race program starting at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday night (June 21)…The track’s video gaming facility operates from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, while its simulcast offerings begin each day at 11:00 a.m.