John MacDonald had the hot hand at Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 11) night, taking five of the night's 11 races.

The 'Prime Minister' wasted no time, sliding second-over out of the pocket with Steuben Rudy ($23.20) to escape traffic en route to a 1:53.3 victory in the opening race. MacDonald then teamed up with odds-on favourites Have A Parodi ($3.60, 1:53.3) and Forty Carrots ($2.70, 1:54.2) in the third and fourth events, respectively.

The 34-year-old Prince Edward Island native closed out his five-bagger with Dojea Maidscaptor ($10.60, 1:53.4), an off-the-pace winner in the sixth, and Big Game ($5.40, 1:52.3), who prevailed in pillar-to-post fashion in the eighth.

Chris Lems was the victorious one in the night's featured $5,500 Miracle Mile Pace, sustaining a first-over bid through the far turn with Andy Gardner trainee Modern Gesture ($13.40) to collar pacesetter Sassy Hanover in 1:50.4.

(Vernon Downs)