The crowd wagering choice Western Tsunami started things off in fast fashion on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

With Jonathan Roberts doing the teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard, Western Tsunami ($3.70) went right to the front from post position four in the $11,000 Open Handicap Pace, shrugging off a couple of minor challenges from Pacinello before posting a half-length victory over his annoying runner-up and completing a 1:51.4 mile, that proved to be the fastest of Saturday’s 13 events.

Saturday’s bold-going score was the third locally, fifth this season and 45th all-time for the gritty nine-year-old gelding, who is shared in ownership by Brainard and Andrew Herzog. The bay son of Western Hanover is now a career-winner of more than $351,400.

The victory was one of four during the track’s 79th program for relative newcomer Roberts, who also finished first with the trotter B Cor Janett (race two), and pacers Mach My Word (race eight) and B Cor Terry (race 12).

Rick Plano capped off an 11-win weekend with four Saturday scores, and currently tops the track’s driving stats with 132 tallies and its conditioning chart with 68 first-place finishes.

(With files from Vernon Downs)