Racing last week for the first time in three months, Lanjo Lee finished fourth in his racing return at Batavia Downs last week. But that start served him well as he bounced back and took victory in the $18,750 Open Handicap pacing feature at The Downs on Saturday (Aug. 2) night.
Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) took the lead and paced to the half in a tepid :58.1 with Melanion N (Drew Monti) tucked away neatly in the pocket. After rounding turn three, Born A Rebel (Joe Chindano Jr.) pulled first-over from fourth and made his way towards the leader at three-quarters in 1:26.4. Born A Rebel got to within a length of Lanjo Lee and hung there around the last turn. As the race moved into the stretch, Lanjo Lee maintained his lead and paced strongly against the tripping Melanion N to the wire and hung on to win by a head in 1:55.
Owned by Gordon Swift and trained by Jeff Sorenson, Lanjo Lee ($6.30) notched his fifth win of the year and 30th of his 80-start career.
Later in the $17,361 Open II pace, Woodmere Rollnpop (Dave McNeight III) parked Pointomygranson (Jim Morrill Jr.) to the quarter in :28 before Morrill took a seat at the half in :56.2. That’s where Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.) pulled from third and took his turn engaging Woodmere Rollnpop from five-eighths to three-quarters, where Villiam was finally able to get the lead and cross over in the last turn. Once on top, Villiam got brave and paced home under a high line and won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1.
The win was also the fifth of the year for Villiam ($3.60) who is owned by Joe Chindano Sr. and trained by his driver, Chindano Jr.
Drew Monti was the leading driver on Saturday with a grand slam in the bike while trainers Ron Beback Jr. and Lee Dahn both won two races each.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 6) with post time at 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)