Jimmy Whittemore did the steering for trainer Joe De Carlo as Little Mister sat immediately behind the pace-setting Noble Senator through three quarters, timed in 1:23.4. The 7-year-old son of Village Jove took charge from there, rushing home in :28.1 to claim the week’s Open-1 handicap pace by three-quarters of a length over the onrushing newcomer Pick A Trail.

Saturday’s first-place finish was the fourth in the last six trips to the track for Little Mister, his third victory at Vernon and seventh score this season for the M D K Racing Stable. The time resulted in a career best record for the lifetime winner of $289,249.

Little Mister’s tally was one of two on the night for De Carlo, who also conditions Daibin N, a 1:53.4 first place finisher in Saturday’s seventh session. Jack Rice drove the 6-year-old son of Iraklis for the M D K contingent. The gritty gelding’s personal best performance resulted in his second win in a row and fourth of 2007.

Trainer Chuck Connor, Jr. was at the controls in Saturday’s $8,000 ninth event when Squaw’s Ebony Chip came roaring home from third at the top of the stretch to secure a 1:52.4 score for owner Carol Pilger in the week’s Open-2 pace. The quick-closing mile resulted in a third season’s victory for the 5-year-old son of Browning Blue Chip, who increased his lifetime winnings to more than $129,600.

Hobby Art Benka, the meet’s winningest equine performer, picked up his eighth local tally and ninth overall triumph of 2007 when Claude Huckabone, III teamed the 6-year-old son of Artist Stena to a front-striding 1:54.2 score in Saturday’s fifth race that equaled his career-best speed badge.