Artic Byrd continued her high-flying ways with a 1:52.1 come-from-behind victory in the featured event during Thursday’s matinee program at Vernon Downs.

Competing in the $8,000 Open-2 contest for female pacers, the energetic Artic Byrd idled in fourth place as Abbey Road Hanover hustled to a :56-second half. The five-year-old roan mare rallied from fifth in the final quarter and flew home from third in the stretch to equal her lifetime speed-mark with a three-quarter-length score over the mile-cutter. The favourite, Little Santamonica, finished third.

It was the fourth tally in 13 season’s starts and the 12th lifetime score for the much-improved daughter of Art Major-Tundra Byrd, who is shared in ownership by Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell.

Artic Byrd’s fast-closing triumph was the third of the afternoon for driver Truman Gale and the second for trainer Jocelyn Lavigne, who was enjoying her birthday.

Chris Lems also logged a driving triple during Thursday’s 11-race card, while John MacDonald captured two of the program’s first three races, and trainer Edgar Clarke was credited with first-place finishes in events three and eight.

(Vernon Downs)