There has been no horse that has enjoyed as much success at Saratoga Casino Hotel in the last five years as Artful Way. The Jackie Greene-trained pacer piled up awards last decade for Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year while the dominant force in the local Open Pace. Owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables of Queensbury, NY, Artful Way (Artistic Fella) was lightly raced last season after suffering an injury but scored a couple of victories while competing throughout the wintertime at Yonkers Raceway. On Tuesday afternoon, Artful Way was back in town and back into the Open Pace where he drew post three in the six-horse feature. Billy Dobson piloted the nine year old stalwart who was dismissed at odds of 9-1. Dobson sat back patiently in a first half that went in a fast 55.3. The favored Some Waratah A (Greg Merton) came first over approaching the three-quarter pole before powering past the leader in three quarters of 1:24. All the while, Artful Way took up the chase and followed the move of the favorite before gunning him down in the final strides to secure his first Open win of the year in his first try in the $12,000 feature. Paying $21.20 to win is something that would have never happened in previous seasons for Artful Way who led an exacta with Some Waratah A second that returned $59. Invader Kerford Road A (Jay Randall) closed to finish third and rounded out a $261.50 triple. For Artful Way, it was win number 61 in 163 career starts for the Greene stable star. Dobson became the sixth different driver to win an Open in the six installments of features in the young season at the Spa.
Live racing continues on Wednesday at Saratoga with first post time set for Noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Cheyanne Mandy
