Beat The Drum (Tell All) was tasked with overcoming the outside post in Saturday night’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Don Billings trainee was claimed for $50,000 at Yonkers last month and has fared pretty well downstate since the claim before coming to town for the first time to compete in Saturday’s $14,500 Open Pace. Jimmy Devaux piloted Beat The Drum who was relegated to last in the early going. The seven year old sat back patiently as the fractions in the first half went in 27 and 56.1. Carolina Beach (Mark Beckwith) was on the engine while seeking his second Open win of the season but after checking in at three quarters in 1:24, faced a host of challengers. Beat The Drum charged up from the back of the pack and continued to progress before surging in the stretch to win in 1:52.2. Ideal Rocky (Billy Dobson) raced first-over and finished second while Carolina Beach held on for third. Beat The Drum returned $12.80 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that paid $68 and $451, respectively. The feature score was one of three wins on the card for Don Billings and Jimmy Devaux who also teamed up with victories with claiming pacers Curator and Up Front Napoleon. Devaux piloted four winners on the Saturday card.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon when the New York Sire Stakes kick off at the Spa with three year old pacing fillies taking center stage. First post time for the matinee is set for 12:15pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
