by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Newcomer Rickie made every split a winning one en route to a 1:55.2 triumph in Friday night’s (October 5) $10,000 featured seventh race at Vernon Downs.

Claude Huckabone III handled the catch-driving for trainer Michael Sorentino, Jr. in the week’s Open Handicap Trot as Rickie led through fractions of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:26.2 into the homestretch, where he fought back the advances of Tallamore (inside) and Hitwiththeladies (outside) to prevail by a half length.

Rickie’s win over Tallamore was his seventh of the season for owner Hugo Iodice, and it raised the 7-year-old gelding’s lifetime earnings to $424,227.

Huckabone also finished first with the Casey Miller-owned trotter Realistic Dream (in 1:56.2) to record his 14th two-win outing in 71 completed programs.

Bill Bailey (Pembroke Goddess and On That Note) and Jimmy Whittemore (Taevin’s Tuffy and Jacob’s Winner) also recorded driving doubles during Friday’s 11-race card. For Bailey, it was his second two-win effort of the week and fifth at the meet, while Whittemore has posted two tallies on a single program 15 times at the Downs this season.

Chris Lems, Vernon’s leading provisional pilot this season, logged his 13th first place finish after guiding the Lonny Hale-trained pacer Creek Road Magic to a career best 1:56.4 mile in Friday’s 10th event. The 3-year-old gelding paid $94.00 for the win.

Hale, who ended the evening with a 37-36 lead over Dave Dewhurst in the trainer’s races-won standings, shares ownership of Creek Road Magic with Josh Kinney and Frank Kazlauskas.

Downs Doings: Dewhurst had earned a training tally for On That Note’s 1:58 performance in Friday’s fourth race…Vernon recorded its 21st claim of the meet after owner/amateur driver Vladimir Melnichenko plucked the 5-year-old trotter Partial Hit out of the second race for $6,000…Saturday’s 11-race card, which includes a pair of Open paces, begins 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.