by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Newcomer Chief Karen made her Vernon Downs debut a winning one, while leading driver Rick Plano continued piling up the victories on Thursday night (Oct. 18).

Fotowon photo

Chief Karen was a 1:52.1 winner for driver Billy Dobson.

Shipping in from Yonkers Raceway, the favorite Chief Karen ($4.10) defeated six select rivals in Thursday’s $11,000 featured ninth race, the week’s Open Pace, while Plano posted four first-place finishes during the 12-race program.

Driver Billy Dobson and trainer Heidi Rohr completed a two-win night after Chief Karen rallied from sixth place in the final turn and then flashed through a final quarter in :28 to secure a 1-3/4 length decision over Bay Girl (Plano).

Thursday’s impressive 1:52.1 performance resulted in the sixth season’s score and 24th lifetime tally for the 6-year-old daughter of Camluck-In Your Dreams, who is shared in ownership by Adam T. Michael and Curran Racing. The strong showing equaled her lifetime mark and hiked her career winnings to $350,770.

The Dobson-Rohr combination also clicked with the latter’s pacer Mysticole Maggie (1:54) in Thursday’s $6,000 seventh event.

Plano picked up four wins during a single Vernon program for the sixth time at the 83-program meeting. After finishing in front during the fifth (R U For Me), sixth (Western Slammer), eighth (Milliondollardesign) and 12th events (Chocolate Cookie), the 60-year-old reinsman raised his current Downs victory total to 146.