by Jim Moran, publicity director, Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — M N N Girl’s and Oops I’m A Filly, a pair of pacers with tender winning streaks, bear watching during Thursday night’s 10 race live harness program at Vernon Downs, which gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

The Arnie Marks trained five-year-old mare M N N Girl’s will try to extend her current win skein to three with a victory in Thursday night’s $1,500 second race.

Marks, who owns M N N Girl’s along with William Williams, Jr., will also send out the promising filly I’m All Speed in Thursday’s $2,700 featured eighth event. Shared in ownership by Marks, Williams and Bill Kendrat, the still improving three-year-old has logged a career best 1:56 victory, as well as a pair of second place finishes in three season’s starts, and should be among the wagering choices in this feature for female pacers.

Oops I’m A Filly, who earned her second win in a row with a lifetime best 1:55³ triumph here last Thursday, rates as the filly to beat in Thursday night’s $2,000 10th event. Dan Daley handles the sophomore side-wheeler for his wife, Ann-Mari, and her partner Robert Pergament.

DOWNS DOINGS: Marks’ .417 training average after 28 starts ranks him third on Vernon’s percentage chart as of June 1. His son, Josh, last season’s second-leading race-winning driver at the Downs with 70 first place finishes, makes his local season’s debut behind M N N Girl’s…Three time Vernon race-winning champion Howard Okusko, Jr. (2000-2002) currently leads in first place driving victories after 19 programs with 21. Defending champ Jack Rice and Ruel “Dude” Goodblood, Jr. are each tied at 14 in second place…Angus Mac Donald, who earned his 1,000th career driving victory here last Saturday, will officially be honored by the track in a winner’s circle ceremony on Saturday night, June 12. The 57-year-old Vernon resident became just the 19th all-time Downs regular to reach this lofty plateau and only the 851st in the Standardbred sport’s history. Goodblood currently tops Vernon’s all-time win chart for regular reinsmen with more than 4,000 first place finishes, although many of his credits occurred at other racetracks…Vernon Downs will simulcast this Saturday’s (June 5) entire thoroughbred card from Belmont Park starting at 12:00 noon, including the 136th Belmont Stakes race in which Smarty Jones will try to become the 12th “Triple Crown” champion in the sport’s history and the first since Affirmed in 1978. The Belmont Stakes feature is slated to go off at 6:38 p.m., so Vernon plans to start its live racing at 7:00 p.m. this Saturday (June 5), which is a half hour later than its normal first post time.