Jinxys Delight made all the pace in Thursday evening's featured $9,100 top-level Miracle Mile distaff pacing event at Vernon Downs, capping a driving grand slam for John MacDonald on the evening's nine-race card.
MacDonald, who also owns and trains the seven-year-old Bettors Delight mare, wasted no time achieving the lead, clearing Looney Dune (Ben McNeil) before reaching the first turn through a :27.4 first quarter. Jinxys Delight ($9.50) would face no threats to speak of through the middle half, only facing mild first-over pressure from Pancakes (Truman Gale) off the far turn before edging clear. While Jinxys Delight had no trouble parrying the challenge of Pancakes, she was fully extended in deep stretch to stave off the late bids of Asset Management (Fern Paquet, Jr.) and Bettorhaveanother (Chris Lems) by a scant nose in 1:53.1.
MacDonald also accounted for three odds-on winners on the evening, prevailing with his own trainee Hailey Hanover ($2.40, 1:54.3) as well as Andy Gardner trainee Always Flashn ($3.30, 1:53.2) and Heidi Rohr trainee Racsan Cyndee ($2.60, 1:55.2).
Byron Pineda's Shortest Distance ($19.00) scored her 93rd career victory in the sub-featured $6,100 distaff pace, pouncing from the pocket for a 1:52.3 score with Fern Paquet, Jr. aboard. Rita Polese trains the 11-year-old Park Place mare.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday evening, with post time slated for 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)