Vernon, NY — Lepanto and Barton Dalious captured the $7,500 featured trot on Saturday night (Aug. 19) at Vernon Downs, but John MacDonald stole the headlines with a six-win performance in the sulky.

In the featured trot, Discus Hanover MacDonald) was first to the quarter in :27.2 before JNR Express (Truman Gale) took over heading around the first turn. Grey Clouds (Dan Daley) advanced first-up going down the backstretch and took the lead heading to the :58 half before battling JNR Express battled all the way around the final turn and to three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Lepanto, who was fifth at three-quarters, came charging down the home stretch and blew right on by to win in 1:56.0. Poker Play (Steeven Genois) came flying late to snatch second; Discus Hanover finished third.

Lepanto ($4.20) is a 5-year-old gelding by Bar Hopping owned by the Betcha Win Stable and trained by Jeff Sorenson. It was his seventh win this season and his 18th career victory.

MacDonald got his wins with Ashlee’s Supreme, Sugaree Express, All Heart I Am, Sgt Papa Daddy, Last Call Larry and Sweet Sofie T, the last of whom finished in a dead heat with SVF Cash Deposit (Dalious).

Live racing at Vernon Downs returns on Friday (Aug. 25) at 4 p.m. For more information, go to www.vernondowns.com.