Aaron Byron piloted four winners on the Tuesday card at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The 41-year-old Byron became a local regular last season and has been a force in the sulky. On Tuesday, Byron guided Numero Dix (Muscle Mass) to victory in the $17,000 “Pop Up Final”. Jared Bothwell owns and trains the four-year-old trotter who came in off a win and a pair of seconds in his previous three starts when he moved aggressively to the lead on Tuesday for Byron. One of a trio of 5-2 shots in the race, Numero Dix cruised through a first half of 59.1 before being met with the challenge of co-favorite Gold Dealer (Wally Hennessey) in the stretch and holding him off to score in a career-best 1:58.1. Byron piloted a trio of winners for trainer Melissa Beckwith on the card as Poppa Joe prevailed early on the matinee program while local first-timers Starfish and Twin B Cabo each scored victories in their Spa debuts. Byron sits among the top five in the driver standings this season.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a matinee that begins at 12pm.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
