The veteran Mystical Valentine displayed the most foot when it counted and came through with a 1:51.3 victory in Monday’s $9,500 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs

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Competing in the Memorial Day Open Pace, the favourite Mystical Valentine ($3.90) dropped in behind the hard-charging Pacinello shortly after the start, and then sat in the cat-bird’s seat until the stretch drive. The speedy six-year-old sashayed to the front in the final quarter (personally timed in :28 seconds) and defeated his mile-cutting wagering rival by two lengths.

Frank Milby drove for trainer Dave Dewhurst as the steady-going son of Dream Work-Sneakheravalentine joined fellow pacer Cheap N Easy and trotter Ziegler Hanover as the meet’s only three-time winners after 14 programs. The sizzling score, which missed his lifetime mark by two ticks of the timer, gave the bay battler five first-place finishes in nine current outings, and increased his all-time win count to 26. Philip K. Hale owns the career winner of $346,091.

Roman Lopez, steering his trotter Glorious Winner and pacers Shum Fu and Miracle Freeluck, captured three of the afternoon’s 13 races.

The Rick Plano-driven pacer Mach My Word churned out the day’s fastest mile, a career-best 1:51.1 triumph for owner/trainer Scott West and his partner Tracy Brainard.

(Vernon Downs)