Joseph Appler’s pacer Sri Panka used the inside route to post a 1:54.3 victory in Saturday night’s $8,000 Open-2 contest at Vernon Downs

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Sitting second for most of the featured seventh race, Sri Panka ($8.50) found himself hemmed in behind the pacesetting Johnny Midnight and other rallying contenders heading down the stretch.

Driver Frank Davis, sitting in for trainer John Gagnon, Jr., had no choice but to try and maneuvered his charge through tight quarters in the lower pylon path and, together, they managed to squirt through and post a one and a quarter length victory over Johnny Midnight.

It marked the initial win in this class, the second victory at the meet, fourth first-place finish of the season and the 12th all-time for the five-year-old son of The Panderosa-Road To Pandalay, who now sports career earnings of $134,726.

Leading provisional driver Truman Gale earned his 15th score at the meet after winning with the pacer Mr Express (1:55), while leading driver Jimmy Whittemore finished first with the pacers Fox Valley Lee (1:54) and Forty Carrots (1:53.3) to secure his Downs leading 12th double of the 45-card campaign.

Provisional pilot Brandon Loomis logged his second career victory after teaming the pacer Bettordays R Cumin to a 1:56.2 record and a $19.00 win payoff in Saturday’s eighth event.

(Vernon Downs)