by Jim Moran, publicity director, Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Queenie Rocks continued her winning ways with a 1:57¹ showing in Friday night’s $5,000 Open trotting feature at Vernon Downs.

Defending dash-winning champ Jack Rice completed his third driving double at the meet when he guided Queenie Rocks on an overland journey from third at the half. The four-year-old mare gained the lead entering the homestretch and held off the on-rushing Greatest Hit by a neck at the completion of the mile contest.

The win was her fourth at the meet, tying her for top honors among trotters with Rapphappy Kash, and leaving her one score behind the meet’s pace-setting pacer Raining Again.

The stout showing resulted in the fifth overall win in 2004 for Queenie Rocks, who is trained by Maria St. Pierre. The Sam Rice-owned bay daughter of Conway Hall increased her lifetime winnings to $27,990.

Rice had scored earlier in the card with the pacer R L Delivered, trained by Mike Bellow and owned by Richard and Stephen Jackson.

Current race-winning leader Howard Okusko, Jr. scored three times during Friday’s 10 race card. He tallied with the trotter Home Town Princess for owner Maxine Hadlock, the pacer After Dan for the Little Farm and the pacer Pert Hanover for owners Robert and Elaine Siemski.

Vernon’s next live harness program will be Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m.