Firethorn and trainer/driver John MacDonald were gate-to-wire winners in the featured $8,000 Open II Pace on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

The eight-year-old gelding went directly to the lead at the start and carved out solid fractions of :27.4 for the quarter, :57-seconds for the half, and 1:23.3 for three-quarters. Firethorn received a momentary challenge from Stonebridge Master (Chris Lems), but he stalled entering the far turn and eventually faded to finish last. Firethorn then built up a healthy four-length lead at the top of the stretch and appeared to be home free. However, Moonlight Ransom (Jimmy Whittemore) was angled out in the lane and charged up to eliminate most of Firethorn's lead, finishing second by just a length. The final time for the mile was 1:51.3.

Firethorn is owned by the J P Stables of Winchester, Ont.

The complete order of finish for the fifth race was Firethorn, Moonlight Ransom, Oozies Bad Boy, I Do Hanover, Whitemountainpower, and Stonebridge Master. Some Or Lis was a scratch (sick).

There is a special Sunday evening program of racing at Vernon Downs featuring the finals of the Empire Breeders Classic for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. The final for the colts has a purse of $215,125 and the fillies final has a purse of $217,725. In addition, there will be three New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts. Many of the finest drivers in harness racing will make their way to Vernon Downs for the Sunday card, including Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, and Ron Pierce. It promises to be an exciting evening of racing action. The 11-race program will begin at 6:45 p.m.

(With files from Vernon Downs)