by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — A track record was tied, one local season’s standard was established, two others were tied and driver Dan Cappello collected four victories during nine divisions of an $87,500 New York-bred late closing contest for 2-year-old pacers at Vernon Downs on Saturday night (September 22).

Cappello guided Four Starz Louie to a 1:54.1 triumph in one of four male splits, equaling the Vernon all-time record for 2-year-old gelding side-wheelers, set by Three Card Monte in 1998. The Mike Latham-trained son of Sealed N Delivered benefited from a pocket-sitting trip to record his third tally in eight starts, obtain a new speed standard and log the fastest mile at the meet by a member of his age, sex and gait. The career-winner of $18,597 is owned by the Four Starzzzz Stable.

Local favorite Isosceles also took advantage of a two-hole trip to snare another male division, secure a fresh personal best record and tie the meet’s current 1:55 standard for freshman colt pacers, established by Duke Did It on August 4. Part-owner Bill Bailey did the teaming for his ownership partners, trainer Ann Yurenka and Nancy Cole, as the bay son of Riverboat King improved his summary line to 2-2-1 and his bankroll to $12,645 after 10 starts.

The Cappello controlled Queen Of The Stars extended her winning streak to four and lifted her summary line to 4-3-1 after 11 starts with a front striding 1:56 performance in the fastest filly flight that tied the 2007 local mark for her class, set by Cross Creek Kassie on July 24. Glenn Raia trains the bay daughter of Village Jove for owner Tina Raia.

The other filly splits went to Bet The Ranch, in 1:57.1 for driver Howard Okusko, Jr., trainer Jessica Okusko and owners Edwin Gold and Conrad Zurich; Gray Major, in 1:57.4 for the Okusko husband/wife team and the Purple Haze Stables; Twin B Snicker, in 1:57 for Cappello, trainer/co-owner Jody Weidman and his partner John Orsaio, Jr.; and Pacifica, in 1:57 for Cappello, trainer Mark Ford and owner Barbara Baum.

Other winners from the colt/gelding contingent were Alpine Jubilee, in 1:56.4 for driver Brian Allen, trainer Harold Reddick, Jr. and the Alpine Meadow Racing Stable, and Major Stone, in 1:56.2 for the Okusko and Purple Haze contingent.

Okusko turned in his second four-win driving performance of the week and fifth of the local campaign after a 1:54.2 triumph behind the pacer Ruffled Tux in Saturday’s 12th and final race. The win also gave Jessica Okusko and the Purple Haze Stables three win-credits during the evening.

The meet’s leading provisional driver Chris Lems teamed Saturday’s fastest winner, the Triple C Stable’s Khaki’s Feather, to a 1:52.2 spin around Vernon’s oval in the week’s $8,000 Open-2 Pace, while Jim Morrill, Jr. piloted Dear Old Boy to a 1:52.3 tally in the $10,000 Open-1 pacing test for trainer Gates Brunet and his ownership partner Theodore Gewertz.

Downs Doings: The first-place finish by Lems was his 12th at the meet…Okusko, who chalked up 10 tallies during the three-night week, now has a 77-69 lead over Josh Marks in the meet’s dash-winning derby…Vernon continues with its fall Thursday-Saturday live schedule next week, first post 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.