Scorpion Moon, the 53-program meet’s fastest trotter, secured his third straight score, while Rick Plano recorded his 6,000th career driving victory during Wednesday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs.

Fan favorite Scorpion Moon ($2.90) captured his second straight Open Trot contest with a front-striding 1:53.3 triumph in Wednesday’s $11,000 featured seventh race, while Plano posted his meet-leading 86th first-place finish to reach the prestigious milestone behind his wife’s (Maryann) pacer Bigtown Hero in the evening’s fourth event.

Wednesday’s win behind Scorpion Moon was one of four on the night for noted catch-driver Jim Morrill Jr., who provided leading trainer Tracy Brainard with three victories on her birthday.

Fresh off a career-best and local season’s swiftest 1:52.3 mile in this top class for diagonally-gaited performers at Vernon last week, Scorpion Moon obtained his ninth season’s score (fourth at the Downs) and 88th lifetime win. Brainard and Andrew Herzog own the gritty 11-year-old gelding, who raised his all-time earnings to more than $952,000.

Plano, a native of Frankfort (NY) who began his harness career here back in 1973, before going on to achieve success at Ohio’s Northfield Park and on the California circuit, returned to the Downs a few season’s back and has been a leading driver and trainer here ever since. The 60-year-old horseman has accumulated more than $23.6 million in official purse money during his productive career.

After finishing first with the trotter Double D Fine in Wednesday’s first race and the pacer Townie Guy in race six, driver Claude Huckabone, Jr. obtained his fourth double of the meet.

(With files from Vernon Downs)