by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Former regular Jeff Gregory returned to capture four divisions of the $239,195 New York Sires Stake for 3-year-old trotting fillies, while Splendid Les won the main Miracle Mile class for square-gaiters during Thursday night’s (July 31) harness racing action at Vernon Downs.

Having honed his driving skills at the Downs, Gregory has gone on to become one of the sport’s top catch-drivers. He began his four-win performance with a front-striding 1:57.4 score behind RC Biscuit (Credit Winner-Malhana Gunilla) in the $47,199 first race. It was the second NYSS tally this season for the George Ducharme-trained homebred high-stepper, who is still registered to Raymond W. J. Campbell, Jr.

Gregory got his second victory in the $47,999 third race after another bold-going mile, this one a 1:57.1 performance behind Sweetr By The Bone, who became a repeat NYSS winner during the current campaign. Richard Johnson conditions the daughter of Malabar Man-On The Bones for owner-breeder Richard S. Jones.

It’s Coast Time, trainer Thomas O. Lail’s homebred daughter of Credit Winner-West Coast, provided Gregory with his third tally after she closed from third in the stretch to register a close 1:58.2 decision in the $47,999 fifth race, notching her second straight NYSS triumph.

After finishing third with Southwind Martini in the fourth NYSS split, Gregory capped off his sterling performance with a 1:56.1 effort behind Valbruna in Thursday’s $47,999 seventh session. The solid pocket-sitting score provided the bay daughter of Conway Hall-Myth with a fresh record and her first trip to the winner’s circle this season for trainer Erv Miller and the Perretti and Black Horse racing stables.

Josh Marks, who won two of Thursday’s 10 events, steered Parcc Side to a 1:56.4 front-ending triumph in the $47,999 sixth race for trainer Kara Buxton and owners Allen J. Tomlinson and Dale E. Larson. The nearly five-length tally was the fifth in 10 season’s starts, three in NYSS competition, for the bay daughter of Credit Winner-Schare Hall.

Howard Parker did the catch driving for trainer John Stark, Jr. as Splendid Les raced on or near the front end throughout the $10,000 ninth race, the week’s top Miracle Mile trotting test, before staging a comeback in the stretch to post a 1:56 victory. The nearly three length tally was the second at Vernon and third in 10 current starts for the Barnik Racing Stable’s 7-year-old gelding.

Downs Doings: Marks’ other first-place finish was with Cool Touch, who snared a 1:58.1 triumph in Thursday’s $7,000 eighth event, division two of the Miracle Mile class, for Scott West and co-owner-trainer Tracy Brainard…Friday’s nine-race program will begin at 6:55 p.m…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.