Amid chilly and windy conditions, John MacDonald -- the leading driver at Vernon Downs -- enjoyed good fortunes on Friday the 13th, prevailing in six of the evening's 10 races.
After wins aboard I Saw Red ($14.20, 1:55.4) and Lucky Taryn ($5.50, 1:56) for trainer Andy Gardner, the 33-year-old MacDonald captured the co-featured $5,500 top-level trot with Jen Sansone trainee Governor Victory ($6.30, 1:56.2).
Not only did his first three victories come in pacesetting fashion, but so would the three to follow, as he swept the evening's final three races. Robert Gale trainee Megaparfaite ($17.40, 1:56.2) and the Bette Calice-trained Sharpshootennorris ($6.90, 1:59.1) would bring MacDonald's win total to five, and his own trainee Express Jet ($4.60, 1:57) proved victorious in a first-level distaff pace to cap the six-win evening.
MacDonald extended his lead over Chris Lems to 13 wins with three programs remaining in the 2015 season at the Miracle Mile. Live racing returns on Saturday (November 14) evening, with the first of 11 races due off at 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)