Scorpion Moon returned to his home track and captured the featured trot, while Fern Paquet, Jr. achieved his 2,000th career driving victory at Vernon Downs on Thursday evening.
Sent off as the favourite in his $8,000 assignment, Scorpion Moon idled in fifth as Magic cut the initial three-quarters in 1:28.4. Rallying from fifth at the half, the rugged seven-year-old gelding powered through the stretch to defeat Magic by a half-length in 1:57.
Josh Marks, the track's leading driver, did the teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard, the meet's top trainer, as Scorpion Moon secured his fifth victory in his last six outings and his 15th win of the season.
Brainard and Andrew Herzog share ownership of the lifetime winner of $437,470, who earned his 1:52.4 record at Pocono Downs earlier this year.
Fern Paquet, Jr. reached the 2,000-win milestone after guiding the trotter Ginsigna to a 2:00.2 tally in Thursday's first race. The pocket-sitting journey gave the four-year-old gelding his third season's score for owner-trainer Peter Krawec.
(Vernon Downs)