Chef Lee completed his sweep of the Tamarind Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings when he dug in late to capture Monday’s $35,800 championship at The Meadows.
Chef Lee moved to the lead before the quarter and took the field through what appeared to be a comfortable 1:28.4 three-quarters. But when Simeon angled off the pylons from third for the stretch drive, the battle was on. Chef Lee found more for Mike Wilder and downed Simeon by a nose in 1:58, with Flying Muscles third.
“I probably should have let my horse sprint a little quicker, but I thought I was okay,” said Wilder, who piloted three winners on the 14-race card. “I pulled the plugs at the top of the stretch, and I got after him as much as I ever do, which is just peck at him. He was giving me all he had at the wire.”
Chef Lee’s victory was especially meaningful for owner/trainer Norm Parker, who selected Chef Lee for his uncle, long-time Standardbred owner Rex Lee Parker, and purchased the gelded son of Cantab Hall-Summer Savory at Lexington as a yearling.
“Uncle Rex told me I could bid up to $12,000,” Norm Parker said, “and that’s exactly what we gave for him.”
When the elder Parker was diagnosed with cancer, he willed his Standardbreds to his nephew. At the time of Rex Lee Parker’s death in October 2014, Chef Lee was the only horse remaining in his stable. Rex Lee Parker never got to see his final horse win, as Chef Lee didn’t take a mark in 10 starts at two while remaining competitive in stakes company.
“Where I raced him made a difference,” Norm Parker said. “He was in stake races most of the year, and I thought he had a chance to be a really nice horse. This year, he started out with the kind of horses he’s able to beat.”
Chef Lee is undefeated in four 2015 outings and likely will be placed more judiciously.
“He’ll be in Pennsylvania stuff,” Norm Parker said. “We’ll see whether we go sires or stallion series.”
He views Chef Lee as a cherished connection to his late uncle. For one thing, Dwane Parker — Norm’s dad and Rex Lee’s brother — comes to the Parker stable almost daily to check up on Chef Lee. And Norm Parker feels something even stronger.
“Uncle Rex is looking down on us,” he said. “Something’s going right, so we’ll say he has a little bit to do with it.”
(The Meadows)