With a sizable crowd on hand for the annual camel and ostrich races, Lutetium ($18.60) parlayed a pocket trip into a 1:53.2 upset victory in Saturday (June 13) evening's $10,000 Open Trot at Vernon Downs.
Jimmy Whittemore secured the pocket with the eight-year-old Credit Winner gelding, out-sprinted only by 6-5 favourite Detroit Rapper (Greg Merton) through a :27.4 first quarter. Lutetium was the beneficiary of a middle-half duel, as A Penny Earned (Chris Lems) applied steady pressure to Detroit Rapper, softening the favourite up on the far turn. While A Penny Earned had nothing left at the top of the stretch and began to fade, Lutetium was able to wedge out of the pocket and push clear of the tiring pacesetter in mid-stretch. Lutetium prevailed ultimately by one and a quarter lengths, holding clear of a late-closing War Hero (Fern Paquet Jr.). March Awareness (John MacDonald) rallied from last to take third.
Mark Laidlaw trains Lutetium for owner Colleen Girdlestone.
While checking in at the rear of the field with A Penny Earned in the featured event, driver Chris Lems bagged five winners on the 11-race program, teaming up with David Dewhurst trainees Pounce K ($4.70, 1:54.2), Semper Fit ($5.90, 1:57.3), and Ideal Tan ($5.40, 1:55) in addition to George Ducharme trainees High Rise ($3.20, 1:55.4) and Lucky Ten K ($2.40, 1:57.4).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Sunday (June 14) afternoon, with the first of 14 races due off at 1:15 p.m. Eastern time.
(Vernon Downs)