by James Witherite, Vernon Downs racing media

Vernon, NY — Commanding favorite Non Stick was handed her first career defeat in her Empire Breeders Classic elimination on Friday (June 10) at Vernon Downs, while Fad Finance ($22.60) and Earn Your Wings ($18.20) copped minor upsets in the preliminaries for next week’s (June 19) marquee trotting event.

Image courtesy of Fotowon photis

Fad Finance denies Non Stick the first winner’s circle for the first time of her career.

In the first $12,500 elimination, trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt sprinted to the fore with 1-10 favorite Non Stick, and the pair were unchallenged through splits of :26.4, :56.4, and 1:25.3. At head-stretch, the then-undefeated daughter of Lucky Chucky faced pressure from the two who most directly tracked her, as Straight A Student (Mark MacDonald) emerged from the pocket and Fad Finance (Trond Smedshammer) fanned deeper yet. Fad Finance vaulted to a narrow lead in mid-stretch, battling to maintain a lead over Straight A Student for a 1:54.1 triumph. Non Stick and Lindylicious (Chris Lems) rounded out the top four in the first elimination.

Smedshammer also trains Fad Finance, a 3-year-old Credit Winner filly, for the Purple Haze Stables, Marc Goldberg, and the Rojan Stables.

In the second elimination, Earn Your Wings (Jason Bartlett) took full advantage of a pocket trip, swinging out at head-stretch to duel clear of pacesetter Swinging Royalty (Lems) for a 1:54.4 win. Open Access (Matt Kakaley) rallied belatedly into third, while Goosebump Hanover (Jim Morrill, Jr.) held fourth.

Anette Lorentzon trains Earn Your Wings, also a 3-year-old Credit Winner filly, for the SRF Stable.

Of the two fifth-place finishers in the eliminations, Dazzling Dollars draws into next week’s (June 19) $234,375 final.

The following ten 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings advance directly to the $222,975 Empire Breeders Classic final: Dante, Just For Today, Omaha Set Hut, Reve Royale, Sir Royson, Smalltownthrowdown, Southern Palms, Sweet Royalty, Thats a Bad Boy, and The Royal Harry.

Both finals will be part of a special Sunday evening card at Vernon on Father’s Day (June 19).

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 11).

Post time is set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.