Coming off a six-win night on Friday, driver Leon Bailey was back in the Vernon Downs spotlight on Saturday when he guided Primo Uomo to victory in the $11,806 Open Pace.
Primo Uomo went straight to the front from his assigned outside post six, but Mask On Mask Off (Jimmy Whittemore) took over the lead through a :27.2 first quarter. The favoured Primo Uomo took the lead back heading to the backstretch and was first to the half in :56.4. He cruised to three-quarters in 1:24.4. As they reached the stretch, Mask On Mask Off gave everything he had, but Primo Uomo was too strong and won easily in 1:52.3 by 1-3/4 lengths. Feelin American (Lee Morris) rounded out the top three finish order.
Primo Uomo has now earned two wins and two seconds in his latest Open appearances at Vernon Downs. The four-year-old gelding by Heston Blue Chip out of Primadonna is trained by David Dewhurst for owners Chris and Dale Lawton. The win was his seventh this season from 35 starts and he now has a total of 24 victories over the course of his career spanning 70 races. Primo Uomo paid $2.70 to win.
Bailey had a driving triple on Saturday's 13-race card, as did Jimmy Whittemore. Jessica Okusko, Claude Huckabone III, Leopold Sawyers and Robert Gale all had training doubles.
Chris and Dale Lawton's Samsun Of A Beach ($15.40) and driver Steeven Genois won the seventh race, named the R Thomas Suarez & Bernie Waugh Memorial Pace, in 1:55.1 over War Of Will and Bailey.
The next live harness racing program at Vernon Downs is set for Friday, Nov. 1 with post time at 3:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)