by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Lutetium upsets in Vernon
feature; Lems wins five
Vernon, N.Y. -- 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 8-year-old Credit Winner gelding, out-sprinted only by 6-5
favorite 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 favorite 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 1-1/4 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.
