JK Panache hadn't won a race since his last try at Vernon Downs on August 2. He returned to the winner's circle in emphatic fashion in the featured $10,000 Open 1 Handicap Pace on Saturday night, pulling away in the stretch to win in 1:50.2.

JK Panache (Chris Lems) sat in mid-pack early on as Ts Electric (Claude Huckabone III) set fast fractions with a :25.4 quarter and a :53.4 half. JK Panache had to move three-wide to get a clear shot at the leader as the field passed the half-mile mark. He had plenty of momentum by the time he made the far turn and had taken the lead, going past three-quarters in 1:21.1. Moonlight Ransom (John Macdonald) sat third through the early part of the race and had been in between horses when JK Panache went three-wide. It was at this point that he also moved forwardly. While he couldn't keep up with JK Panache, Moonlight Ransom did finish second while Cactus Jack (Truman Gale) came on for third.

The complete order of finish was: JK Panache, Moonlight Ransom, Cactus Jack, Hot Shot Lawyer, Sailing Cruise, Six Gun, and Ts Electric.

JK Panache (Art Major-Paris Hanover) is owned by Philip Hale of New Hartford, New York and David Dewhurst of Clinton, New York. Dewhurst is also the trainer.

(With files from Vernon Downs)