by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Gunther Unflat’s fast-class performer Whelan Mike and driver Jimmy Whittemore shared the Vernon Downs spotlight during Saturday night’s (Oct. 7) 10-race harness program.

With Jim Meittinis doing the teaming for trainer Howard Okusko, Sr. in the week’s $6,000 featured pace, Whelan Mike rallied from third in the homestretch to defeat the pace-setting favorite Midazzler by three-quarters of a length. The 1:53.4 mile in the ninth race was a personal best win record for the 4-year-old side-wheeler, who notched his second score on the campaign and increased his career winnings to $164,354. As the fourth wagering choice in the five-horse field, he paid $12.00 for the victory.

Whittemore, a 2006 graduate from SUNY Morrisville’s highly-regarded equine program, teamed four winners during the evening, tying Ruel “Dude” Goodblood, Jr. for top honors at the meet in that department.

The 22-year-old native of Norway, Maine began his four-bagger with Frederick Apker’s pacer J T’s Roadster in the fourth race. He then guided Paul Richardson’s pacer San Diego to a first place finish in the sixth session, teamed Peter Krawec’s pacer Punkin Eater to a tally in the seventh event, and capped off his stellar showing with a triumph behind Alexandra Howard and Jessica Markle’s pacer The Rau Man N in the 10th test.

Whittemore, 22, is the son of veteran New England horseman Dennis Whittemore, who trains many of the horses that Jimmy drives. Young Whittemore credits principal owners Paul and Martha Richardson for providing top caliber horses for his dad to condition and him to drive.

“It helps when you have good owners,” he admitted. “As a result of my good fortune with their horses, I’m starting to get a few catch-drives, and that has given me more opportunities to be out on the track. Things are going real well right now; I just hope the good racing luck continues.”

DOWNS DOINGS: Whittemore’s four win evening raised his win total for the 15-night-old meet to 10. Chuck Connor, Jr. is currently the track’s dash-winning leader with 19 credits…Saturday’s fastest mile, a 1:53.1 performance, was turned in by the 4-year-old pacer Dear Old Boy in the $4,000 eighth event. Gates Brunet, who shares ownership of the $325,967 career earner with Theodore Gewertz, did the teaming…Trainer George Deak, Jr., whose charges Cosmic Speed and J T’s Roadster captured the first and fourth races, respectively, earned his initial double of the fall campaign…Inigo Montoya, a sophomore trotter owned by driver/trainer Anthony Mac Rae and Jim Dunn, posted a 1:59.1 maiden-breaking victory in Saturday’s second race…Calling hours for veteran Vernon driving champion Gary Gibson, who died Friday morning at the age of 62, will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 8) at the Malecki Funeral Home in Vernon. A memorial service is to be conducted later the same evening…Vernon begins its final week of live Thursday-Saturday competition on October 12. Starting on October 20, the track will switch to a Friday-Saturday night slate until the end of the 30-night campaign, which goes through November 25…The track also offers daily simulcast sessions starting at 11:00 a.m.