The handsome gray gelding Four One One transformed a pocket trip into a 1:53.1 triumph in Saturday night’s $9,000 featured Open-1 pace at Vernon Downs

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With Joe Nassimos doing the driving for trainer Wayne Hughes, Four One One drafted along behind the pacesetting Proud American until the stretch drive and then rallied to win the eighth event by a little more than two lengths. He paid $10.80 for having finished first in the fastest pacing mile after six programs. Four One One’s win was one-fifth of a second faster than the previous meet mark, shared by the pacers Proud American and Outlaw Blues.

The favourite Smoky Bonz came on for second, while Proud American, who had won the previous two Open events, faded to third.

A runner-up to Proud American in his previous two outings, Four One One earned his initial victory after three season’s starts and increased his lifetime winnings to $278,767. It marked the 15th career tally for the seven-year-old son of Sealed N Delivered-Jammin Jenna, who is owned by Robert Siemski of Utica, New York.

The Saratoga ship-in Daylon Chance was awarded a 1:54.1 triumph in Saturday’s $6,000 sixth session, the Open-2 pace, after Goodbye So Long, the original first-place finisher, was disqualified and placed to sixth after having been found guilty of interfering with two contenders, including Daylon Chance, in the stretch drive. Jordan Derue drove the official winner for trainer Colin Johnson and Gestion R. Zane Inc. of Lachine, Que.

Current leading dash-winners Jimmy Whittemore, Howard Okusko, Jr., along with top provisional pilot Leon Bailey, each recorded driving doubles during Saturday’s 12-race card, while trainer Anthony Gugliotta, Jr. was also credited with a pair of first-place finishes.

(With files from Vernon Downs)