Former New York Sires Stakes standout Hes Gorgeous looked sharp during a 1:50 track record performance at Vernon Downs on Saturday night

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Competing in the $6,200 sixth race, Hes Gorgeous ($5.80) led throughout, carving out splits of :26-flat, :54.4 and 1:22.2 before recording a decisive decision over the closest of his six rivals and equalling the career-best speed mark he set at Vernon last season.

The win was the first in six current appearances and the 23rd lifetime victory for the fleet-footed five-year-old son of Art Major-So Ravishing, who clipped two-fifths of a second off the previous Vernon standard for older pacing horses, which had been established by Pacinello last July 23.

Jack Rice drove for leading trainer Tracy Brainard as the bay battler increased his lifetime winnings to more than $733,300 for owner Kenneth Jacobs.

Mystical Valentine became the local season’s fourth two-time winning pacer with his front-striding 1:51.2 neck victory over Diamond Stick Pin in Saturday’s $9,500 Open contest. Jimmy Whittemore sat in for trainer Dave Dewhurst in race nine as the gritty six-year-old gelding secured his fourth season’s score and his 25th lifetime tally. Phillip Hale owns the career-winner of more than $340,000.

Bill Bailey, who made a precautionary hospital visit following a racetrack accident at Vernon on Friday evening, was cleared to drive in two races during the Saturday card.

(Vernon Downs)