Despite heavy rains and a sloppy track, 3,125 enthusiastic fans welcomed harness racing back to central New York and watched the pacer Bet The Ranch captured Friday’s $9,000 opening night feature at Vernon Downs

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Ten-time track driving champion Howard Okusko, Jr. did the steering for his wife, Jennifer, Vernon’s defending training champ, as Bet The Ranch raced at or near the lead throughout the ninth race before drawing off in the final sixteenth to record a handy 1-1/2 length victory over crowd favourite Chantal Hall.

It was the 21st lifetime tally for the Edward Gold and Conrad Zurich-owned five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight, who has earned $182,657 during her productive career.

The win gave the Okuskos a pair of victories during Friday’s 10-race program.

Josh Marks, who won the evening’s inaugural pace with his dad’s (Arnie) pacer PW Ivory Grin, earned a “hat trick” during the initial offering of Vernon’s 90-card campaign that will extend through November 27.

Veteran conditioner Lonny Hale also harnessed a pair for first-place finishers during the track’s lid-lifter.

(Vernon Downs)