by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Devil’s Delight pleased her few backers with a career-best 1:53.2 victory in Thursday night’s (October 18) featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.

Making just her second Vernon appearance, Devil’s Delight went off as the fourth wagering choice in the select field of six. With Jeff Tallarino doing the steering, the 5-year-old mare advanced from fifth at the half, finally became a factor in the stretch drive and used a head bob at the finish to earn a slim decision over My True Delight in the week’s $10,000 Open Handicap for female pacers.

It marked the eighth season’s score, first at the Downs, for the career-winner of $114,898, who belongs to trainer Jim Graham and his ownership partners Ron Viola and Dave Venniro. She returned $21.60, $11.60 and $9.90 across the board. My True Delight paid $17.40 to place and $6.50 to show, while Newberry Winner gave back $9.90 for her third place finish.

Another relative newcomer, Irish Luck, proved to be a good hunch bet in Thursday’s $5,040 seventh race. Not only did the 6-year-old pacing mare produce a 1:53 win record and the fastest mile of the evening, he made the tote board shine with payoffs of $52.50 to win, $16.00 to place and $7.40 to show.

With trainer Ron Beback, Jr. at the controls, the career-winner of $109,050 gained the lead after a :55.4 half and remained in control during the final four furlongs to record a two length triumph over Northwestern. It was his fifth tally of 2007; first at the Downs.

A front-ending 1:58.1 victory by Crazed in Thursday’s first race proved to be the swiftest pari-mutuel mile this season at Vernon by a 2-year-old trotter. It was the initial triumph for the brown colt, who is shared in ownership by the Lindy Racing Stable, Robert Rudolph, and Gary and Ellen Hoffman.

Downs Doings: Bill Bailey posted a driving triple during the evening’s 10-race card, while Dave Dewhurst also harnessed a trio of winners to trail Lonny Hale 42-41 in training triumphs after 76 programs… Jimmy Whittemore collected two tallies, while driver Howard Okusko, Jr. earned his meet-leading 91st victory to lead runner-up Josh Marks by five scores…Since this was the final Thursday program of Vernon’s 54th season, there will only be Friday-Saturday night offerings for the remainder of the 84-card campaign, which goes through November 10…Friday’s 11-race program, which spotlights the meet’s top trotters in the $10,000 eighth event, begins at 6:45 p.m…Vernon’s 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. Friday and Saturday, while its daily simulcast sessions begin at 11:00 a.m.