Monticello: Lucky Man wins Au Revior Pace

On Friday (Dec. 27) at Monticello Raceway on a track listed as ‘good,’ a field of five pacers lined up behind the starting gate for the last time in their career in the Au Revoir $5,000 Invitational Pace. For almost a decade and a half, these five equine iron geldings have been behind the starting gate almost 1,600 times in their combined careers.

When the gate left, the betting favorite Flem N Em N, starting from post position four with driver Jim DeVaux, were first away followed by Lucky Man right alongside. DeVaux worked his mount hard to get the front keeping Lucky Man at bay.

As they zipped past the opening quarter in 27 3/5, driver Jennifer Lappe and Lucky Man were parked and had no choice and were forced to tuck in the three hole well past the paddock turn. The Saratoga invader Flem N Em M took the field to the half in 57 3/5.

At this point Lappe pulled the right line for the last time and started the outer flow and they were first over, biding their time as the leader Flem N Em N hit the the three-quarter mark in 1:27 3/5. In the paddock turn Lucky Man, urged on by Lappe, exploded in a matter of strides and had an instant three lengths on the field at the head of the stretch.

The usually reserved Lappe savored the moment and pumped her arm in the air before the wire, reminiscent of the Stanley Dancer moment with Duenna in the Hambletonian, as the duo hit the wire in 1:57 2/5, drawing off by 5-1/4 lengths, pacing their last quarter in 29 4/5. Flem N Em N finished second while Lightning Raider N was third.

The winner paid a $6.40 mutuel. It was his ninth win of the season and he has banked $31,980.

Lucky Man’s career stats and overall body of work is impressive. The $90,000 Camluck yearling purchase has amassed lifetime earnings of $1.2 million, a lifetime mark of 1:49 1/5 as a 5-year-old at Mohawk, and 69 career wins. He is co-owned by trainer-driver Jennifer Lappe and Patrick Laiso.

After the winner’s circle presentation an emotional Lappe paid homage to her steed and unhooked the sulky and walked the gutsy campaigner back to the paddock for the last time. She enjoyed the moment amid the spattering of applause for the classy duo from those admirers on the racing apron that braved the elements to bid him farewell.

Cool him out good, this last time.