The $12,500 Winners Over for trotters served as the Tuesday night feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. A strong field of seven was highlighted by last week’s Winners Over victor Mister Muscle (Muscle Mass) who was assigned the outside post as he looked to move his record to three-for-three since coming to the Spa earlier in the month. Last week, the Melissa Beckwith trainee held off the late charge of rival Justice Jet who had to settle for second. On Tuesday, Justice Jet drew the rail with reinsman Jimmy Devaux in the sulky and was the public’s 7-5 betting favorite in the feature. Mister Muscle made a break while leaving but after getting back trotting rushed up to the front-end anyways. Justice Jet got away third and Devaux sat patiently with the favorite in a first half in 58.3. Mister Muscle and Justice Jet went toe-to-toe approaching three quarters and though Justice Jet took the lead, he never got clear. Mister Muscle rallied on the rail and those two brought their battle to the stretch where Justice Jet poked his nose out in time to win a photo in 1:56.3. Mister Muscle wound up being disqualified from second for failing to lose ground while on a break and was placed fourth. Silent Pine (Bruce Cooper) was placed second while Ulster (Jay Randall) was moved up to third. Justice Jet gave his trainer Gary Levine a training double as Levine’s Victoria Swan (Swan For All) won her fourth consecutive race on Tuesday night with Bruce Aldrich Jr. in the sulky.
Live racing continues on Wednesday evening at Saratoga with a 7:05pm first post.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
