by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Crowd wagering favorites Napoleon, Big Apple Deli, Make It Happen, General Royal and Hall of Fame driver John Campbell didn’t disappoint in Tuesday night’s (July 15) $233,930 New York Sires Stakes feature for male 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs.

Napoleon nailed down his flight with a bold going 1:55 performance for driver Stephane Bouchard; Big Apple Deli delivered a gate-to-wire 1:55.3 divisional triumph with Campbell at the controls; Make It Happen was unchallenged in his 1:56.3 mile for Ray Schnittker, while General Royal rallied from sixth at the half and closed from second in the homestretch to capture his heat in 1:57 with Campbell doing the teaming.

Campbell, who recently earned his 10,000th career driving victory, also won with the 2-year-old pacer Co Ed Desire, in 1:56.1 for trainer Gary Messenger and owner Scott Woogen, to record a hat trick. The Standardbred sport’s all-time money winner, with more than $254 million, also picked up purse checks in all four of his other starts during Tuesday’s 10-race card.

Napoleon (Credit Winner-Growth Spurt), recent winner of the $605,854 Yonkers Trot, earned a new speed-badge and his fourth score in six current outings for trainer Noel Daley and owner Sidney Korn, one of the colt’s breeders, and his partners Kenneth Tucci, Lawrence Thomases and John Guamiere.

Big Apple Deli (Conway Hall-Windswept Pleasure) also secured a new win mark and his fifth tally in eight season’s showings for Hall of Fame trainer John Simpson, Jr. and owner Lon Frocione.

Make It Happen (Conway Hall-Meadowbranch Magic), who on May 26 tied the track’s 1:54.4 record for sophomore colt trotters, improved his 2008 summary line to 3-2-1 after seven appearances for the Howard Taylor, Jack Adkins, Eat My Dust and Daisy Acres contingent.

General Royal (CR Excalibur-Crown Crysta) also logged a fresh record while notching his second score in five season’s starts for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Ken Jacobs.

The evening’s other NYSS winners were Colie’s (Credit Winner-Just For Sport), in 1:56.3 for driver-trainer Chuck Connor, Jr. and the Fred Monteleone Stable, and Manfromnantucket (Giant Hit-Yankee Blondie), in 1:57.3 for Claude Huckabone, III and trainer-owner Allen McCarty.

Downs Doings: Napoleon has notched nine victories and earnings of more than $553,400 in 14 lifetime starts…Tuesday’s tally was the third in a row for Manfromnantucket…Colie’s also captured a NYSS race at Goshen on July 6…Four of Big Apple Deli’s current tallies have come at Vernon…Make It Happen’s lifetime winnings stand at $573,695 after 21 starts…General Royal won a NYSS division in 1:58 at Monticello on June 11…Hanger Pride N became the winningest trotter at the meet following a 1:59.3 verdict in Tuesday’s 10th race for driver Josh Marks and owner-trainer Tracy Brainard…Vernon’s next live program will be at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, which is Fan Appreciation Night, featuring $1 programs, hot dogs, draft beers (10 oz) and popcorn…The track’s weeklong afternoon and evening simulcasts begin daily at 11:00 a.m., while its video gaming facility 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. on Friday and Saturday. More information can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.