Wolfpack Zach continues to dazzle at Saratoga Casino Hotel as on Monday, the Joel Flanders trainee already won for the thirteenth time in the 2026 season. The four-year-old trotter who began his year competing against younger horses in lower classifications has stepped up into Open company in recent weeks and quickly stamped himself as the one to beat in the “way too early” Horse of the Year race. Wolfpack Zach came into Monday’s try in the $18,000 Open Trot as a winner of back-to-back starts against the track’s top high-steppers. After swooping the group last week (June 22) for his third Open win of the season, Wolfpack Zach was again relegated to closing duties on Monday although reinsman Jacob Cutting did advance a bit early to settle the 8-5 second choice in the betting into fourth early in the mile. The favorite But Why (Jimmy Devaux) carved out first-half fractions of 27.3 and 57.2 before being confronted by Wolfpack Zach who unloaded on the leader before surging into what turned out to be an insurmountable lead. The razor-sharp local trotting star stopped the timer in 1:54.1 in a time that matched his own clocking from earlier in the meet as the fastest of the year for any trotter at the Spa. Dealin With Dewey (Wally Hennessey) came on to be second to hit the board for the fourth consecutive week in the Open while Big Box Hanover (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot for the second straight week in the trotting feature. Wolfpack Zach now owns an eye-popping thirteen wins in his seventeen ’26 starts.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
