by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Rochester Standardbred owners Lynn and Charles Whitmer, Jr. are understandably proud of their productive broodmare Madonna Victoria, but never more so than on Saturday night (Nov. 25) at Vernon Downs.

In a feat that is certainly unique, if not unprecedented in the annals of harness racing, not one, not two, but five of Madonna Victoria’s offspring competed on the track’s 11-race closing night card.

Camvicious, a 5-year-old son of Cambest, posted a second place finish in the evening’s $2,100 sixth race; 3-year-old full brother Camvicster collected third place money in the $3,200 seventh session; 4-year-old half-brother Victicious, a son of Blissful Hall, finished out of the money in the eighth event, while Camviction, an 8-year-old son of Cambest captured the $3,885 ninth race. Everytrickinthebook, a 6-year-old gelding by David’s Pass, failed to pick up a purse check in the program’s final contest.

All five pacers are still owned by the Whitmers, and Lynn serves as their trainer. She finished the 30-night meet tied for 10th place on the race-winning trainers’ chart with six scores.

Camvicious is a career winner of $14,728 with a 1:57.3 record; Camvicster has banked more than $5,700 and sports a 1:56.4 mark after 11 lifetime starts; Victicious has earned $6,632 and a 1:57.3 speed-badge in 23 career appearances; Camviction, who owns a 1:53.4 win-mark, increased his total earnings to more than $54,300 after Saturday’s 1:54.2 triumph, while Everytrickinthebook shows winnings of $9,505 and a 1:57.2 record.

While the U.S. Trotting Association doesn’t keep records of this type, Saturday night’s achievement was certainly distinctive, but the Whitmers have known for a long time that Madonna Victoria is something special.