Lanjo Lee was the runner-up in last week’s Open Handicap Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel, but on Saturday night (March 16), the Jeff Sorensen-trained pacer didn’t settle for second-best.
The odds-on favourite in this week's $20,270 installment of the Open, Lanjo Lee wound up first-over following a first half that went in :57.1. Driven by Leon Bailey, the five-year-old So Surreal gelding toughed it out overland in the second lap before wearing the leader down and edging out fellow closer Skyway Victor (Mitch Cushing) at the wire in a mile clocked in 1:54.
Lanjo Lee paid $3.50 to win and led an exacta with 18-1 shot Skyway Victor that returned $37.80. East End (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot and completed a $172.50 triple.
Lanjo Lee’s victory was his second on the season from seven starts as he previously prevailed in an Open contested at Batavia in January. The career winner of 21 races and cnearly $230,000 is owned by Gordon Swift of Bath, New York.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)