Newcomer Winbak Dimensions came close to the track record for aged pacing horses with his 1:52 victory in Saturday night’s $11,000 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs

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Shuffled back to sixth in the early going, Winbak Dimensions ($5.20) advanced on the outside from fifth at the three-quarter mark, and then closed from third in the homestretch to win by a head in the week’s top Miracle Mile pacing contest.

The time was just four-fifths of a second off the Vernon record for older, unaltered standardbreds on the lateral gait, set by Goin To The Beach in 2002. Saturday’s top-class tally marked the fourth season’s score and the 30th lifetime victory for the seven-year-old son of Village Jove-Exact Dimensions, who is owned by William and Jack Heinz. Jim Perry conditions the career winner of nearly $505,000.

The top pace tally was one of five on the evening for defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore, who also finished first with the pacers Bond Blue Chip (for Perry and the Heinz ownership duo), Hobby Art Benka, Outlaw Blues and Sun E.

Chris Lems earned three driving wins during Saturday’s 12-race program, while current leader Josh Marks and trainer Joe Sansone each carded a pair of first-place finishes.

All of Saturday’s winning times were in 1:56.3 or faster, six of them in 1:53 or quicker. Four of the winners earned personal best records.

Provisional driver Leslie Hale posted his initial Vernon victory behind the pacer Johnny Midnight (1:54) in Saturday’s fourth event. He had earlier won a pair of pari-mutuel races on a program at Rockingham Park.

(Vernon Downs)