by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Smoky Bonz captured the week’s $10,000 Open-1 Handicap Pace and earned the Angus Allen Memorial Trophy in Saturday night’s (June 16) featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.

Ruel (Dude) Goodblood, Jr. sat in for trainer Howard Okusko, Jr. and teamed Smoky Bonz to a stouthearted 1:52.2 triumph. The hard-hitting 5-year-old gelding wrestled the lead away from On A Tear after the :26.3 opening quarter, then put his eight rivals through splits of :56 and 1:24.4 before posting a one length decision over the crowd wagering favorite, On A Tear.

While notching his second Vernon Open victory in three starts, Smoky Bonz collected his third current tally and raised his season’s winnings to $21,700 for the Purple Haze Stables and George Wyman. The swift-striding son of Kassa Branca now sports a $147,283 lifetime bankroll.

The race honored the memory of Allen, a former three-time (1969-1971) Downs dash-winning driving champion, who passed away in 2004.

Goodblood’s score behind Smoky Bonz was one of three on the evening for the Maine native, who also won with owner/trainer John Gagnon, Jr.’s trotter Justin’s Star (2:01.2), and the pacer Mr Cammander (1:55), conditioned by Larry Rathbone for the M And L Stable Of Delaware, Inc.

With Todd Frocione driving for his dad, owner Lon Frocione, and trainer Tony Mondi, National Artchive achieved his second straight score with a 1:54 tally in Saturday’s $8,000 eighth event, the week’s Open-II Pace.

Downs Doings: Driver Joe Nassimos nailed down a double on the evening, while trainer Judy Blaun also posted a pair of first place finishes, including the initial career triumph for First Nation. The gelded son of Allamerican Native, shared in ownership by Blaun and John Sixt, became the meet’s first 2-year-old winner after a 1:56.4 pacing performance for Nassimos in Saturday’s second race…Vernon’s next live harness program will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday (June 19)…The track’s video gaming facility operates daily from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m., while its simulcast offerings begin each day at 11:00 a.m.