Elleofnxample upsets Thursday feature

Elleofnxample got the nod in a tight photo to capture Thursday night's $8,500 Junior Open pace at Vernon Downs.

With a lot of lead changes going on early in the featured first race, Elleofnxample ($19.60) ambled along in fourth to the half before beginning an overland journey that found her second, and closing, entering the stretch drive.  In the final furlong, the brown mare overtook the pace-setting Southwest and held off Tanned For Life to prevail by a nose in a 1:52.2 mile performance.

Elleofnxample is #3, Tanned for Life is #5, Steuben Ruthless is #3.

Todd Frocione did the teaming for his father, owner Lon Frocione, and trainer Tony Mondi as the 6-year-old daughter of N Xample-Fairline Hanover collected her fifth season's score and 19^th lifetime victory, while increasing her career winnings to more than $209,500.  The time was just three ticks of the timer off of her all-time speed mark.

The pacer Bay Girl tied Elleofnxample for fastest mile-of-the-night honors with a 1:52.2 triumph in Thursday's 11^th event.  Luke Plano did the teaming for his dad, Rick, the 5-year-old mare's conditioner, and owner Michael Sergi.

Leading driver Rick Plano picked up three wins during Thursday's 12-race program, including a fourth straight score with the streaking filly R U For Me, which gave the steady-going sophomore the second-longest winning streak by a pacer at the 74-program meet.  Eric Felter conditions the bay daughter of Artiscape-Ru In The Game for Kathryn Wood and Joseph Bien.

Defending driving champion Jimmy Whittemore also bagged three Thursday tallies, all of the horses conditioned by his father, Dennis, while Roman Lopez logged a driving and training double during the evening.

DOWNS DOINGS—Plano also procured three training tallies during the program to move within one win of top trainer and defending champion Tracy Brainard, 63-62, with 16 racing nights remaining during the track's 59^th season…The trotter My Buddy Hall Lee owns the longest winning streak at the meet—six straight scores, while the pacer Steuben Ruthless is second with five wins in succession…Friday night's 13-race card, which includes an $8,500 Junior Open Trot in race eight and seven $6,000 divisions of the new Late Bloomer Trotting Series, will begin at 6:55 p.m…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.