Artful Way (Artistic Fella) prevailed in the Open Pace for the third time in the last four weeks at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jackie Rousse trainee got away last in the $15,000 six horse Open on a hot night in the Spa City. Frank Coppola Jr. got a cover trip for Artful Way as the four year old pacer followed the race’s 4-5 betting favorite Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) who wound up first over after the first half was paced in 55.2 by Spinarama (Austin Siegelman). Artful Way fanned off his cover and reeled in Panocchio in the final strides before stopping the timer in 1:52.1, matching the fastest mile time of the year thus far this season at Saratoga. Panocchio wound up second best while Caution Signs (Bruce Aldrich Jr) earned the show spot. Artful Way paid $13.60 to win while pulling off the mild upset. The exacta returned $32.80 with the favorite finishing second and the race’s triple came back $102. It was the fourth win in nine starts in 2016 for Artful Way who scored ten victories in 25 seasonal starts in ’15.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
