Lanjo Lee captured his second Open Pace victory of the season in the $21,429 feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday, March 23.
Lanjo Lee and driver Jacob Cutting capitalized on a pocket trip behind the 2-5 favourite Rocknroll Runa A, navigating a fast-paced first half with fractions of :27.3 and :55.4. As the field entered the stretch, the favourites faltered, and the longshots thrived. The Jeff Sorenson trainee emerged victorious by three-quarters of a length in a season-best 1:53, marking the fastest mile of the season at Saratoga. The 54-1 longshot, ER Griffin (Chris Long), finished second, while 25-1 Little Willy (Shawn Gray) claimed third in the feature.
Lanjo Lee, a six-year-old So Surreal-My Drag Queen gelding, paid $28.40 to win and delivered significant exotics, with a $478 exacta and $1,648 trifecta (on $2 wagers).
The winner of $322,581 in his career is owned by Gordon Swift of Bath, New York.
Live harness racing at Saratoga continues with a matinee on Monday starting at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)