Including his last-to-first victory in Friday evening's featured $8,000 Open II Pace, Jimmy Whittemore captured five driving wins on the Patriot Day program at Vernon Downs.

 

After parlaying a pocket trip to victory in the opener with Try This ($5.90, 1:57), the Maine native passed all four of his rivals in the feature with Big City Jewel ($3.80).

 

Whittemore settled the 4-year-old Artiscape gelding at the back of the compact field, having no part of the pace while Card Knock Life (Frank Davis) controlled the terms through a rapid first six furlongs in 1:22.

 

As Sassy Hanover (Claude Huckabone Jr.) failed to fire from the pocket, Big City Jewel was carried three-wide off the far turn, chasing valiantly after Card Knock Life and ultimately prevailing in the final sixteenth of a 1:50.2 mile.

 

Damon Blue Chip stayed on from a tracking trip to take third. Homer Hochstetler trains Big City Jewel for Kristofer Heim.

 

Following his sweep of the early double, Whittemore teamed up with Veal Marsala ($4.70, 1:54.4), Ziegler Hanover ($4.50, 1:55.2), and The Grey Bullet ($4.10, 1:54.4) to round out his five-win evening.

 

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (Sept. 12) evening, with post time at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).