Trainer Rene Allard won a pair of Opens last Saturday night (July 20) at Saratoga Casino Hotel and scored with Lyons River Pride (Somebeachsomewhere) in Friday night’s Fillies and Mares Open at the Spa. On Saturday, Allard sent his Beach Boogie (Somebeachsomewhere) to town to compete in the $15,000 Open Pace. The five year old came in as a winner of three of his last four but had a daunting task ahead of him in the local feature. He was tasked with besting 2019 Open star and the race’s big favorite Hudson Phil (Jay Randall). Hudson Phil’s win streak in the local Open came to an end last week but he was the 4-5 public choice on Saturday nonetheless as he looked to start a new streak. The Jackie Greene trainee powered out to the early lead and set fast fractions of 26.3 and 55.2 in the first half. All the while, Beach Boogie was sitting last in the six-horse feature. Leading driver Billy Dobson got Beach Boogie underway and after Hudson Phil clicked off three quarters in 1:23, the favorite had company. Beach Boogie tipped off the cover of fellow out-of-towner Lockton Luck A (Mark Beckwith) and stormed home to score in the Open in 1:51.2. Paying $9.30 to win in the mild upset, Beach Boogie gave Allard his fourth Open win at Saratoga in the last eight days. Hudson Phil was the runner-up in an $18.20 exacta while Lockton Luck A rounded out the $119 triple.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at Saratoga with NY Sire Stakes action featured with three year old filly pacers taking center stage. First post time is set for 7:05pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
