by John Horne, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Chris Lems celebrated Cinco de Mayo with five wins at Vernon Downs.

Lems started the season with a win right off the bat in race one. He drove the favorite, Gimme The Cash, past front running Pegasus Point (Truman Gale) at the top of the stretch. Gimme The Cash ($2.30) pulled away to win by four lengths over Jersey Boy (Ben McNeil).

Lems would then capture race four with It’s A Miracle ($4.60) in 1:55. He would win race five with New Leaf ($6.00), going three wide in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1.58.3. The hot driver would win race seven with My Lucky Word ($3.80) in 1:55.1.

Frances Blazer photo

Tempus Seelster captured the main event in 1:52.1.

Race eight was the featured Fillies and Mares Pace, for a purse of $7,300. Lems would cap off Cinco de Mayo by winning for a fifth time with Tempus Seelster ($2.90). Of course he was wearing the number five.

Purple N Gold (John MacDonald) would take the lead from post four, hitting the first quarter in :26.4. Tempus Seelster would then surge to the lead after sitting third by passing both Looney Dune (Ben McNeil) and Purple N Gold. Tempus Seelster would never look back, capturing the main event in 1:52.1. Purple N Gold would hold on for second with Looney Dune capturing third.

The winner is a 4-year-old Big Jim mare, owned by the Holland Racing Stable and trained by Tony Dinges.

Vernon Downs will have a 10-race card Saturday (May 6) during Derby Day. The races will start at a special post time of 3:35 p.m. A lucky fan will get the chance to cast a $500 Derby Dream Bet. Derby Day would not be complete without the popular Derby Hat contest. The Miracle Mile will also host a Food Truck Rodeo.

For more information please visit our website at www.vernondowns.com.