Sir Lehigh Z Tam leads New York bred winners at Vernon
August 24, 2012,by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs
Vernon, NY — Sir Lehigh Z Tam turned in the fastest performance among the 81 New York-bred 2-year-old distaff Standardbreds competing in Friday night’s (August 24) $128,300 State Fair racing program at Vernon Downs.
Fotowon photo
Sir Lehigh Z Tam scored in 1:53 for Pat Berry.
With Pat Berry doing the teaming for trainer Richard Ringler in Friday’s eighth event, a division of the $63,900 frosh filly pace, Sir Lehigh Z Tam rallied from fifth in the early going, closed from second at the head of the payoff patch, and then caught and passed the pace-setting Know It All in deep stretch to earn a career-best 1:53 win mark.
It marked the second Vernon victory and the third tally in five lifetime starts for the steady-going daughter of Art Major-Moss Blue Chip, who is registered to Pat Lachance, Ira Rosenblum and the M&M Harness Racing contingent.
Friday’s other first-place finishers in the filly pace were JK Songsunblue (Art Major-Song Bird) in 1:53.3, Greatdayforamerica (American Ideal-Seasational) in 1:54, Ritascape (Artiscape-Rita J) in 1:54.1 and Mollie Mile (American Ideal-Little Betty) in 1:55.2.
On the trotting side of the ledger, You Want Me gave noted catch-driver Jim Morrill, Jr. his fifth win during Friday’s 11-race program after her maiden-breaking 1:57.1 performance in race nine. It was also one of three tallies during the track’s 59th program for trainer Paul Kelley. William Weaver III and the Kelley Racing Stable own the black daughter of Credit Winner-Annette Hall, who also sports a pair of second-place finishes and a third in five official trips to the racetrack.
The other female tallies on the diagonal gait were recorded by Palm Beach Chic (Conway Hall-Back On Track) in 1:57.3, Isabella Gal (RC Royalty-Tango Hall) in 1:58.1, Americash Express (Cash Hall-Neon Hall) in 1:58.4 and Playful Credit (Credit Winner-Pinery) in 1:59.
Former Vernon regular Jeff Gregory piloted a pair of first-place finishers during Friday’s program, as did defending track driving champion Jimmy Whittemore.