by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The trotters Celebrity J Lo and Bankers Lane tied three other Standardbreds for most victories during the 54th season at Vernon Downs on Thursday night (August 2).

Celebrity J Lo logged her fifth tally at the meet with a 1:55.3 mile in Thursday’s $6,300 ninth race, the Jane Colella Memorial Trophy Race, while Bankers Lane cashed in for the fifth time at the track this season with a 1:58.3 showing in the $4,500 sixth session.

Jeff Tallarino did the teaming for trainer/part-owner Roman Lopez and his partner, Jim Switlyk, as Celebrity J Lo turned a pocket trip into a neck decision in the week’s top trotting contest. The 4-year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee took over the lead from Tallamore entering the stretch, then fought off a late rush by The Big Cat to secure her second win in a row and fourth victory in her last five outings. The time bettered the 1:56.4 mark the career winner of $42,280 had earned here on July 26.

Three races earlier, Bankers Lane had moved into a five-all tie with Tallamore and the pacers Noah’s Art and Hobby Art Benka with a similar performance. With Claude Huckabone, III steering for trainer Joe Sansone and owner Deborah Fobes, the 6-year-old son of Primrose Lane rallied from second in the final quarter and held off the fast closing Crowbar Hotel to post a 1-1/2 length score. The lifetime winner of more than $96,000 equaled her total win output from 2006 and helped her driver complete a double on the evening.

Huckabone, the meet’s fourth leading dash-winning reinsman, also won (1:55.4) with the pacer Queen’s Best King, owned by trainer Dee Johnson and Jeff Johnson, Jr., in Thursday’s second race.

The Gates Brunet chauffeured pacer Glass Maker turned in the evening’s fastest mile, a 1:54 journey in Thursday’s $5,460 seventh event, the week’s top test for female pacers. The 3-year-old daughter of Artsplace came on strong from second in the stretch to defeat the on-rushing Miss Robin’s Magic by a nose. The time was a new mark for the still improving distaffer, who has chalked up four wins, six second-place finishes, a third and earnings of nearly $17,000 in 14 current appearances for Ted Gewertz and his ownership partner, Winbak Farm, who bred the fleet-footed filly.

Downs Doings: Dave Dewhurst tied Lonny Hale at 28 for most training tallies at the meet after Space Dragon, a 4-year-old mare he owns with his wife, Regina, won Thursday’s 10th race, turning in a 1:55.3 front-ending effort for driver Joe Nassimos…Vernon will simulcast this Saturday’s entire Hambletonian program from The Meadowlands starting at 11:30 a.m. The $1 million Hambletonian 3-year-old trot is slated to go off at approximately 4:15 p.m…Vernon will offer a 13-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday night (Aug. 4) that includes five divisions of a $158,915 New York Sires Stake for 3-year-old filly trotters, three $10,000 splits in the initial round of the Kindergarten Classic Series for freshman sidewheelers and the week’s $10,000 Open-1 Handicap Pace…The complex’s video gaming facility now 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.