The Manitoba-owned Aime Hanover won a stretch battle to take the co-featured $9,155 conditioned pace and a new lifetime mark at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Kisses From Above (Adam Capizzano) went straight to the front and led through first-half splits of :27 and :56 with Aime Hanover sitting third for Rene Goulet. Go With The Flow (Leon Bailey) then slingshotted to the lead from fifth and looked to leave the field behind as he sprinted to three quarters in 1:24. Coming down the lane, the leader was attacked by Aime Hanover on the outside and Playing Through (Truman Gale) at the pylons. He held on into deep-stretch, but Aime Hanover got up in time to win by a half-length in a career-best 1:52.2. Playing Through finished third.

Aime Hanover ($14.68) took his fifth win of the year in 33 outings for Goulet, who trains the gelding for Darryl and Sherri Mason of Killarney, Man. The son of Betting Line-Allamerican Coed is now 18-for-155 lifetime with $160,286 in earnings. 

Little Instigator ($3.12) defeated older rivals in the $9,155 co-feature for fillies and mares. She sat the pocket for Leon Bailey as Kissapotamus (Dustin Miller) parked out The Hunt Is On (John MacDonald) through a fiery :25.3 quarter before slowing it down to the half in :54.3. The Hunt Is On surrendered nearing the final turn, leaving space for Little Instigator to pounce from the pocket and step around the weary leader at three-quarters in 1:23.3 before cruising to a three-length victory in 1:53.1. Ladysmith (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) was second, followed by Ladytario (Frank Affrunti).

Little Instigator, a three-year-old filly by Heston Blue Chip-Last Time To Play, is trained by Joe Skowyra for owners William and Sarah MacMillan of Glenwood, Md. She has won nine of 17 starts this year and 12 of 23 in her career with earnings of $108,386.

Trainer Michelle Warner tripled on the final third of the 15-race card. She sent out winners Aces Or Bettor ($2.10) in the 11th, You Oughta Know ($3.92) in the 12th, and Valor ($18.94) in the 14th. The conditioner has amassed 56 victories this season.

Bailey led all drivers with a hat trick.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday, Oct. 24 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

(With files from Vernon Downs)