Vernon, N.Y. -- John MacDonald had the hot hand at Vernon
Downs on Saturday (June 11) night, taking five of the night's 11 races.
The "Prime Minister" wasted no time, sliding
second-over out of the pocket with Steuben Rudy ($23.20) to escape traffic en route
to a 1:53.3 victory in the opening race. MacDonald then teamed up with odds-on
favorites Have a Parodi ($3.60, 1:53.3) and Forty Carrots ($2.70, 1:54.2) in
the third and fourth events, respectively.
The 34-year-old Prince Edward Island native closed out his
five-bagger with Dojea Maidscaptor ($10.60, 1:53.4), an off-the-pace winner in
the sixth, and Big Game ($5.40, 1:52.3), who prevailed in pillar-to-post
fashion in the eighth.
Chris Lems was the victorious one in the night's featured
$5,500 Miracle Mile Pace, sustaining a first-over bid through the far turn with
Andy Gardner trainee Modern Gesture ($13.40) to collar pacesetter Sassy Hanover
in 1:50.4.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (June 17)
evening, with post time set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
