Lanjo Lee finished as the runner-up in the Open Handicap Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel last week. However, on Saturday night (March 16), the pacer trained by Jeff Sorensen refused to settle for second place.
In this week's edition of the Open, Lanjo Lee, the frontrunner, found himself leading the pack after completing the first half in a time of :57.1. The odds were in his favour with a stake of $20,270. Guided by Leon Bailey, the five-year-old So Surreal gelding persevered on the outside during the second lap, gradually wearing down the leader and narrowly defeating fellow closer Skyway Victor (Mitch Cushing) at the finish line. The mile was clocked in at 1:54.
Lanjo Lee paid $3.50 to win and formed an exacta with the 18-1 longshot Skyway Victor, resulting in a $37.80 return. East End (Billy Dobson) secured the show position, rounding out a triple that paid $172.50.
This win marked Lanjo Lee's second victory of the season out of seven starts, following his previous triumph in an Open race held at Batavia in January. Owned by Gordon Swift of Bath, New York, Lanjo Lee has accumulated 21 career wins and earned nearly $230,000.