by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Scott Miller’s Cross Creek Kassie reigned as the fastest 2-year-old pacing filly of the 54th season at Vernon Downs after a 1:56 mile in Tuesday night’s (July 24) first race.

Leaving from post five, Cross Creek Kassie raced third until the top of the stretch for driver Jimmy Whittemore, sitting in for trainer Ray Van Dreason, then let loose with a speed spurt that carried her to a 1-1/4 length victory. In posting her initial first-place finish in two career outings, the frisky bay daughter of Kassa Branca-Meredith’s Dream trimmed two-fifths of a second off the previous meet mark for her age, sex and gait, set by Dragon’s Desire.

Evaji Hanover, another freshman distaff sidewheeler, captured her Vernon debut with a bold-striding 1:58 performance in Tuesday’s third contest. Keith Kash, Jr. did the steering for trainer Jim Graham and owner Ron Viola as the bay daughter of Dragon Again-Eva’s Cam collected her first victory in three lifetime appearances.

Seven-time former Downs dash-winning driving champ Brian Allen (1990-1996) engineered the night’s fastest mile, a 1:54.1 effort behind the 3-year-old colt pacer Pro Matic, who rallied from sixth at the half and fourth at the top of the stretch to secure his third triumph in four current attempts. Allen also conditions the brown son of Pro Bono Best for owner Joe Colosi.

Downs Doings: Ruel (Dude) Goodblood, Jr. won with the Reginald MacPherson-owned trotter Credibility and the Shari Okusko-owned pacer Blue Cam Rock to chalk up his second driving double of the meet…Chris Lems logged his sixth win of 2007 and became the meet’s winningest provisional driver after a 1:57.2 tally with his 4-year-old pacing mare She’s Trendy in Tuesday’s eighth event….The Downs will present a nine-race program starting at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday (July 26). There will be no live racing at Vernon on Saturday (July 28) due to a HIPPIEFEST concert at the track…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., including on July 28.