Lanjo Lee on the comeback trail at Saratoga

Lanjo Lee (So Surreal) enjoyed a magical 2022 harness racing season in which he earned over $100,000 competing in large part in the New York Sire Stakes.

Now at the age of four, the Jeff Sorenson-trained pacer is on the comeback trail following a lengthy layoff.

Making just his second start of the year last Saturday (May 27), Lanjo Lee went coast-to-coast in 1:52.2 at Saratoga Casino Hotel to prevail in an upper-level conditional race. This week, Lanjo Lee moved into the Open Pace where he drew post five for his try in the $17,000 feature.

Chris Long piloted the four-year-old who was the public’s second choice in the wagering while at odds of 2-1. The race’s favorite Belmont Major N (Jimmy Devaux) worked hard in the early going carving out first-half fractions of :26.4 and :56.1 before being confronted by Lanjo Lee who powered up alongside the leader.

From there, it was on. Belmont Major N and Lanjo Lee traded strides for nearly an entire half mile before Lanjo Lee imposed his will in the stretch to stop the timer in 1:52. The win time matched the fastest for any horse at Saratoga in the ’23 campaign.

LANJO LEE REPLAY

Belmont Major N wound up as the runner-up in the Open for the second consecutive week while Nuttin But Finesse (Leon Bailey) earned the show spot. Lanjo Lee, who is owned by Gordon Swift of Bath, NY, paid $6.50 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $26.60 and $83, respectively.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a first post time of noon.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Racweay