Allamerican Celeb closed from fourth in a :27.2 final quarter to capture Friday night’s $9,000 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs.

Third pick in the wagering, Allamerican Celeb bided her time in fourth place as Chantal Hall took the week’s distaff Open Pace field to the half in :56.3. The favourite Bet The Ranch took charge in the final turn and led by a 1/2-length as the select sextet turned for home. With driver Fern Paquet, Jr. urging her on, Allamerican Celeb showed the most lick in the lane, and came on to defeat the crowd’s choice by three-quarter of a length. She paid $9.60 to win.

It marked the third victory at the meet and fourth during the season for the four-year-old daughter of Pro Bono Best-Cds Girl, who is trained by Jamie Paquet and owned by the In Front Racing stable. The career-best tally raised her lifetime winnings to more than $84,800.

Defending dash-winning driving champ Josh Marks posted four wins during Friday’s nine-race card, including a 1:58.3 victory in the final test that enabled Hanger Pride N to tie fellow trotters Crown Rules, Sharpshootennorris and the pacer Prettyasapageant at three for the meet’s longest winning streak after 23 programs. Marks’s four-win performance was his second of the meet.

The Dennis Whittemore owned and trained pacing mare My Girl Lora became the initial five-time winner at the Downs this season following a 1:54.3 triumph for Jimmy Whittemore in Friday’s $5,000 seventh session.

(Vernon Downs)