by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Rain showers drenched the downtown Lexington oval once again on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 24) and throughout the races, however that did not slow down Shanghai Lil or driver Michel Lachance who teamed up to take the featured $57,570 John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers, one of five wins on the 12-race card for Lachance.

Lachance tucked the daughter of Jenna’s Beach Boy-Wonderbolt into second around the opening turn and past the first panel of :29. Shuffled back to third past the half-mile marker in :57.3, the 7-5 favorite exploded once tipped out first over around the final turn and drew even with second choice, Precious Stone (Peter Wrenn), through the three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Nigel Soult photo

Shanghai Lil was a 1:53.3 winner in the Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Shanghai Lil quickly opened up two lengths by the head of the lane, and used an electrifying :26.2 final quarter under minimal urging to run away from her rivals and post a 10-1/2 length victory in 1:53.3, an incredible final clocking given the heavy rain and sloppy surface.

Shanghai Lil is trained by Pete Foley for All Star Racing Inc. The Kentucky-bred filly picked up her third seasonal victory, and seventh of her career, increasing her career bankroll to more than $394,000.

The Tetrick brothers rounded out the trifecta, with Trace getting up for second with 50-1 longshot Dream McQueen and Tim taking the show spot with Smooth Silver.

Lachance found himself right back in the winner’s circle when Kentucky Sire Stakes Champion High Def Z Tam picked up his fifth consecutive victory in the $29,228 John Simpson Memorial for 2-year-old colt pacers in 1:58.1. Rich Ringler trains the gelded son of Real Desire-Caribbean for Z Tam Racing LLC and Patrick Lachance. High Def Z Tam increased his seasonal earnings to more than $189,000 with the victory.

The John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old trotting fillies split into two divisions, with the first $26,534 split going to the royally bred Grand Cameron (Jody Jamieson) in 1:59. The daughter of Yankee Glide-Cameron Hall popped the pocket to take the lead up the backstretch and dug in gamely down the stretch to pick up her third lifetime win.

The other $27,034 division for 3-year old trotting fillies was taken by So You De Vie (Michel Lachance), who picked up her third consecutive victory after shipping into Lexington fresh off a win in the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at Freehold. The daughter of Yankee Glide-Only Dreaming picked up her fourth career win with the 1:59.3 score.

The ten-day Grand Circuit meet gets underway this Tuesday, Sept. 29, with a first post of 12:30 p.m. each afternoon. Racing will be conducted Tuesday through Saturday for the two-week meet, with purses exceeding $10 million. The Kentucky Futurity, third leg of trotting’s Triple Crown, is set for Saturday, Oct. 3.