Gigfy (Broadway Hall) has been an off-and-on participant in the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel over the past couple of seasons. Usually a longshot in the trotting feature, the Brian Mattison trainee has never really established himself as a formidable Open force. That has changed a bit this season though as the seven year old who had a strong winter racing at the Meadowlands has been a factor in his limited attempts in the local trotting feature. Following back to back victories at the Spa in March, Gigfy moved up into the featured race for trotters and finished a strong, albeit distant, second to this year’s local stalwart Gruden. Though he faded on the lead as the favorite in the start leading up into Monday’s try in the Open Trot, Gigfy got some board support this week and wound up going off at odds of 9-2 in the $14,000 trotting feature. Alek Chartrand moved Gigfy out to the early lead but gave way to millionaire trotter Cash Me Out (Phil Fluet) heading to the quarter in order to get a pocket trip. With the tempo tepid in lap one, the race did not set up for closers and it was Cash Me Out and Gigfy that decided it in deep stretch. Gigfy surged in the passing lane and got up in time to record his first ever win the Open Trot, stopping the timer in 1:58.2 to edge Cash Me Out. Gruden (Billy Dobson), the race’s favorite, closed to be finish third. Gigfy paid $11.20 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that paid $46 and $142.50, respectively. It was win number four in eleven tries in 2021 for Gigfy who is owned by Gerald D’Alessandro of Ocala, FL and Bridgette Mattison of Watervliet, NY.
Live racing continues in front of the fans starting at Noon on Tuesday.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
