from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Aug. 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Elleofnxample captures Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — 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 feature for Open female pacers at Vernon Downs.

Fotowon photo

Elleofnxample came away with a 1:53.2 triumph in Thursday night’s $10,000 feature.

Todd Frocione, 49-year-old son of 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, advancing to third entering the last furlong.

The 7-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 $250,684.

Thursday’s fastest win was a 1:53.1 showing by the 5-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.

— Jim Moran

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Let’s Go Higher returned to town to compete in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga after a recent stint at Yonkers and Vernon Downs. The Heidi Rohr trainee recorded back-to-back jacks in the local Open in July and also secured a victory in the Vernon feature for distaff pacers but returned to the Spa after a difficult trip in her last race at Yonkers. Shawn Gray fired Let’s Go Higher (Cole Muffler) up in the early stages and made the lead with the mare through an opening quarter of :27.3. The 5-year-old never really had an anxious moment in the mile and secured another Open score on Thursday night, stopping the timer in 1:54.2 in the $18,000 feature. Bell On Wheels (Harry Landy) sat the pocket to Let’s Go Higher and finished behind her while Ace Of Pace (Dan Cappello, Jr.) earned the show spot. Let’s Go Higher was the race’s second choice in the betting at odds of 5-2 as she won for the seventh time this season.