Track record-holder Stonebridge Wish turned in a strong performance en route to a hard-fought 1:52.2 victory in Saturday night’s $10,000 featured sixth race at Vernon Downs

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With leading driver Josh Marks doing the teaming for top trainer Tracy Brainard, the veteran pacer’s owner, Stonebridge Wish led throughout the week’s Miracle Mile 1 clash, but had to beat back late bids by Diamond Stick Pin and Daley Deposit Only before preserving a three-quarter length triumph. He paid $4.40 to win.

In his last outing here on June 5, Stonebridge Wish breezed to a nearly 12-length score in 1:49.4, which rewrote the track’s record for aged pacing geldings and is currently tied, with a similar clocking by the aged pacing mare My Little Dragon, as the fastest mile in Vernon’s 57-year history.

Saturday’s tally was the second at the meet, the third on the season and the 10th all-time for the speedy bay son of Camluck-Star Crusher, who now sports career winnings of $145,794.

It was one of three wins on Saturday’s 12-race card for Marks, raising his local tally to 78 after 29 programs. He also finished first with the pacers Ghost Moves (1:55.1) and You Bet Your Glass (1:51.2) to chalk up his seventh hat trick at the Downs in 2010.

(Vernon Downs)