by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Defending driving champion Howard Okusko, Jr. won four races during Friday’s (May 23) nine-race card at Vernon Downs, including the evening’s feature for female pacers.

Teaming Bet The Ranch for owners Edwin Gold and Conrad Zurich in the $5,775 seventh session, Okusko let the content 3-year-old filly draft along behind the pace-setting Newberry Winner until the stretch drive, and then urged her around the leader and on to a head decision. Miss Robin’s Magic closed for third.

The heady pocket trip resulted in the first victory in five season’s starts for the career winner of more than $37,100, whose 1:54.3 clocking lowered her previous best win mark by 2.3 seconds.

Okusko, a 10-time track titlist, also scored with the Purple Haze Stable’s 3-year-old trotter Princess Hall in the first race, with Joseph Knodel’s 5-year-old pacer Caroline Star in the second race, and Steven Pratt and James Ackley’s sophomore trotter Rivers Edge Jim in the third event.

Caroline Star’s 1:57.2 triumph for trainer Dustin Miller was her fourth in a row at the Downs, tying her with fellow side-wheelers Basilio Blue Chip and Noah’s Art for most wins and consecutive victories after 15 racing programs.

Downs Doings: Howard’s wife, Jessica, is the trainer of record for Princess Hall and Bet The Ranch…Claude Huckabone, Jr. collected his meet-leading fifth driving double after tallies with the trotters Cool Touch and B Dog…Saturday night’s live nine-race card will start at 6:55 p.m. and be followed by a fireworks show…Vernon’s sister track, Tioga Downs, will showcase the Empire Breeders Classic title tests for New York-bred 3-year-old pacers during its Sunday afternoon program, which begins at 1:15 p.m.…Vernon will offer a special 1:15 p.m. Memorial Day matinee program on Monday (May 26) that will feature the Empire Breeders Classic championship finals for New York’s best 3-year-old trotters, one for fillies and another for colts and geldings. Monday’s nine-race card also includes a pair of $8,500 events, one for Open trotters and another for top-flight pacers…Vernon’s horsemen are invited to a complimentary cookout in Founders Park at the conclusion of Monday’s live racing program…The Downs will simulcast the entire Belmont Park program on Saturday, June 7, including the famed Belmont Stakes that will feature Big Brown’s attempt to capture Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.…The track’s weeklong afternoon and evening simulcasts begin daily at 11:00 a.m., while its 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. on Friday and Saturday. More information can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.