Fresh off his 1,000th career driving win, taken with Jessica Okusko trainee Manny in a $39,900 New York Sire Stakes event at Monticello Raceway on Monday, Chris Lems posted a four-win night at Vernon Downs on Thursday evening.
The 29-year-old South Dakota native captured the evening's featured $7,500 Miracle Mile Pace for distaffers, sustaining a first-over bid with Super Soph ($4.60) on the far turn to reel in the pacesetting Pancakes (Fern Paquet, Jr.) and subsequently stave off a late push from the second-over Love Live Laugh (Jimmy Whittemore) for a 1:52.3 triumph. Jackie Rousse trains the six-year-old Admirals Galley mare for owner Mark Wamp.
Lems also prevailed with Kylers Valentine ($6.40, 1:55.1), Grecale AS ($5.30, 1:57.3) and Thats My Dream ($8.50, 1:57) on the 10-race card.
The 50¢ Pick 5 was hit, yielding $291.50 on the winning combination of 6-6-4-3-7. Racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday, with post time slated for 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)
