by Jim Moran, publicity director, Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The favorite Miss Zinfandel lived up to her advanced billing by charging to a 1:53 victory in the $5,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs on Thursday night (April 29).

In a repeat of her impressive win here last week, Miss Zinfandel was put on the front end by trainer/driver John Stark, Jr. after an early tussle with the field’s second wagering choice, She’s Precious. Once in command, the still-improving sophomore speedster stretched a one and a half length lead at the half to an eight length advantage at the conclusion of the mile contest.

The time was a new win-mark for Miss Zinfandel and just three-fifths of a second off the Vernon record for three-year-old pacing distaffers, set by Cammie’s Lady in 1993. It chopped one second off the fastest mile at the fledgling meet, which she had established in this class on opening night (April 23).

Owned by breeder John Boll, Miss Zinfandel remains unbeaten after three season’s outings and she improved her lifetime record to eight tallies in 12 tries. The first-place finish raised her lifetime earnings to $62,603.

In addition to Miss Zinfandel, other horses becoming two-time winners at the meet were the Scott Renz owned, trained and driven pacer Velocity, who captured the fourth race in a lifetime best 1:58³, and the Mary Beth Fisher-trained trotter Ha Ha’s Big Hit, owned by the Two Peas In A Pod Stable, who was driven to a career-best 1:59³ triumph in the eighth event by David Fisher.

On a balmy, 80 degree evening, seven of Thursday’s nine winners earned new win records.

Vernon’s fifth program of 2004 will take place Friday night (April 30) at 6:30 p.m.

In addition to its own live nine race live harness program, Vernon Downs will offer televised wagering on 23 different horseracing tracks Saturday, including Churchill Downs, which features the 130th running of the famed Kentucky Derby.

Simulcast wagering begins at 11:00 a.m. from Churchill Downs and includes 11 thoroughbred and 12 harness tracks.

The $1 million Kentucky Derby, a leg of thoroughbred racing’s “Triple Crown,” is slated to go off at 6:04 p.m. Vernon’s live harness card will start at 6:30 p.m.

Track officials have planned a “Derby Day at the Downs” promotion that includes an $8.95 “all-you-can-eat” luncheon buffet in the trackside Miracle Mile Room from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. Traditional Mint Juleps will be available at the Miracle Mile Room bar from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

A $6.95 chicken Bar-B-Q special and live musical entertainment provided by the popular area band Calypso will be offered in Founders Park in front of the clubhouse from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

A $16.95 all-you-can-eat buffet will be featured in the upper clubhouse Gold Cup Room on Saturday night.

Vernon Downs offers free parking and admission to all of its simulcast and live racing programs, and it always pays track odds (no surcharge on winning wagers).

Latcka, who captured last Saturday’s top pacing attraction with an impressive front-striding 1:56¹ performance for driver/trainer Ray Watson, heads up a field of six swift-footed pacers for Saturday night’s $5,000 eighth race, Vernon’s weekly Open-1 match-up.

Elma La Framboise, George Resta and John Bailey share ownership of the five-year-old side-wheeler, who is now a career winner of $81,400.

Latcka’s chief opponent in Saturday night’s featured harness attraction should be Dance Man, who is moving up in class following a 1:55³ victory in last week’s Open-2 test at the Downs. Joel Wheeler, Kathleen and Archie Mc Neil own the six-year-old speedster.

Nellie Kennedy’s Dreamin’s Esquire and Tony Farina’s Party Boy K, who finished second and third, respectively, to Dance Man here last Saturday, will renew their rivalry in the $4,000 sixth race, this week’s Open-2 showdown.