by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Defending driving champion Howard Okusko, Jr. put on a clinic at Vernon Downs on Thursday night (September 20), winning four races, including the $10,000 feature for female pacers with Wanda’s Choice.

Completing his fourth four-win card of Vernon’s 54th campaign, Okusko urged Wanda’s Choice into the two hole behind Finale’s Angel going to the quarter, then drafted behind the eager pacesetter until the final furlong, where he tipped his mount out of the pocket and they surged to a three-quarter length victory in 1:53.1.

In posting the fastest time during Thursday’s 10-race program, Wanda’s Choice recorded her second straight score in the week’s filly/mares Open test, her fifth local tally and seventh overall in 2007. The crisp clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the 4-year-old mare’s lifetime record, taken at the Downs earlier this season. The career-winner of $89,582 also provided trainer Jessica Okusko with two wins on the evening, and the Purple Haze Stables with three triumphs.

Okusko, who has chalked up four dash-winning and five percentage titles at the Downs, started his victory binge behind the pacer Excuse Me Hanover in Thursday’s second race, teaming the 9-year-old mare to a 1:57 come-from-behind decision for trainer Edward Clement and owner Richard Hallahan.

His initial triumph for the Purple Haze Stables came after a front-ending 1:57 performance behind the Adam Capizzano-conditioned pacer Kimberly Ideal in Thursday’s fourth event. He also steered the 3-year-old filly pacer Manhattan Delight to a pocket-sitting 1:57.4 win record in the fifth event.

Thursday’s four victories gives the Vernon native a 71-67 lead over Josh Marks in this year’s dash-winning derby.

Marks got his lone win of the night behind the pacer Pleiades Bluegrass, trained by Jamie Sullivan for the Summersby Stable, in the 10th event. Okusko had cut out the mile with Sesame Bagel and led entering the stretch, but Marks hustled his 5-year-old charge out of second in the final strides and held off a late-charging Pembroke Annie Mac (Jeff Tallarino driving) to give the Vernon newcomer a fresh 1:55.3 record.

Downs Doings: Okusko’s older brother, Bill, was also victorious on Thursday, teaming the trotter Bridal Veil to a 1:59.3 tally in the eighth event. The time was a new mark for the 4-year-old mare, who is shared in ownership by Bill’s wife, Shawn, and breeder Nancy Kipp…Fortunately no one was injured in a second race mishap involving Scotter Rockette (Claude Huckabone, Jr.), Rainbow Sky (Jimmy Whittemore), Tale Of The Dragon (Capizzano) and Sister Sez (Marks)…Each program during Vernon’s fall Thursday-Saturday night schedule begins at 6:45 p.m., including Friday night’s 10-race offering that features the week’s $10,000 Open Handicap Trot…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.