Magalen O. Bryant’s Lea Von, sent against more seasoned timber competitors, pulled a modest upset Saturday when he drew clear to a 3 1/4-length victory in Shawan Downs’ featured $25,000 Legacy Chase.
Peace Fire finished second, a length ahead of third-place finisher Certain Swagger. Grinding Speed, previously unbeaten this year and coming off his second Virginia Gold Cup win, finished fourth.
Kieran Norris placed Lea Von in midpack through the early going of the 3 1/8-mile timber race and unleashed a strong late move that carried him to a clear-cut victory in 6:12.20 on firm turf.
Trained by Doug Fout, Lea Von scored his second win of the year, following a maiden win at the Willowdale Steeplechase on May 10. The six-year-old Purim gelding also finished third behind Grinding Speed in the My Lady’s Manor.
Michael Wharton’s Grinding Speed followed the pace and advanced to second at one point in the late going but was unable to keep pace with the top three.
The 15th annual Shawan Downs meet in Hunt Valley, Md., was run under cloudy skies with pleasant early-fall temperatures.