Lems Dominates At Vernon Downs
Chris Lems won the first four races at Vernon Downs on Saturday night (July 1), then he won the ninth race nightcap to complete a five-bagger.
Lems won the opener with Stick With Me Kid ($2.40) in gate-to-wire fashion, scoring by six lengths in 1:53.1.
He then won the co-featured $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open with Its A Miracle ($13.60). The seven-year-old mare by Always A Virgin, who is owned by Victor Finncchiaro and trained by Jordan Hope, took the lead before the half. Tataria (Truman Gale) took over at the top of the stretch and Dreas Good Powow (John Macdonald) made it three across the track. But somehow, Its A Miracle battled back at the wire to win in 1:51. Tataria was second with Dreas Good Powow gettin third.
"Lemsy" earned his third straight win with Neon Lights ($3.60) easily in 1:56.2. He then captured his fourth in a row guiding Lipstick Taser ($4) to victory in 1:51.3.
Lems had to wait until race nine to capture his fifth driving Vodka And Lindy ($2.30) to an easy gate-to-wire win in 1:56.1.
Driven by Jeff Long, Wind Of The North won the co-featured $9,500 Open Trot on the Saturday night program. Sweet Thing (Chris Lems) took charge after the first quarter and led to the stretch. Prairie Fortune (Mike Deters) went first-over and battled Sweet Thing in mid-stretch. However, Wind Of The North squeezed through for the 1:53 victory and returned $3 to win at the betting windows. Sweet Thing finished second with Prairie Fortune getting third. The son of Cantab Hall is owned by Daryl Bier and Joann Dombeck while trained by Long.
Racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Tuesday (July 4) at 6 p.m., ending with fireworks.
(With files from Vernon Downs)