The purse-earning pacer Elleofnxample unleashed her patented late charge and came away with a 1:53.2 triumph in Thursday night’s $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs.
Todd Frocione, the 49-year-old son of Syracuse owner Lon Frocione, did the teaming in Thursday’s ninth race, as Elleofnxample started out sixth among the seven distaffers.
As the pacesetter, Abbey Road Hanover, rolled through splits of :27, :56 and 1:24.1 over a rain-dampened 'good' track, Elleofnxample began her scenic rally around the final bend and advanced to third as she entered the final furlong. The seven-year-old mare closed in a :28.2 final quarter to pass and defeat the mile-cutter (who finished third), and the on-rushing challenger, Love You Bye, who ended up three-quarters of a length back in second.
Thursday’s tally was the fourth locally and fifth this season for the Tony Mondi-conditioned daughter of N Xample-Fairline Hanover, who currently sports 26 lifetime victories and earnings of more than $250,600 in career purse earnings.
Thursday’s fastest win was a 1:53.1 showing by the five-year-old pacing mare Southwind Lavanda, who captured the evening’s first event, with Jimmy Whittemore teaming for trainer/part-owner James Healey and the Stephane Bouchard stable.
John MacDonald won three of Thursday’s 12 races, while Whittemore, along with driver Chris Lems and trainer Leopold Sawyers, were each credited with a pair of first-place finishes during the track’s 52nd program of 2013.
(Vernon)