Jay Randall has been on a tear in the opening months of the 2023 season at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Saturday evening, the veteran reinsman added another five wins to his bulky total. The 61 year old Randall sits second in the local driver standings despite doing double duty piloting at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts. Randall guided a pair of Jackie Greene trainees to Saturday scores including the winner of the featured race. St Lads Sterling (Control The Moment) was coming off a win in last weekend’s $14,500 installment of the Winners Over for pacers when he repeated on Saturday night. In a race that saw first half fractions of 26.4 and 55.3 be posted by Kaporal (Mitch Cushing), the 2-1 second-choice in the wagering, St Lads Sterling powered off the rail heading to the three quarter pole before going toe-to-toe with Kaporal in the stretch. At the wire, it was St Lads Sterling who proved victorious in a mile clocked in a sizzling 1:52 on a warm evening in the Spa City. The winner, who is owned by Janie Kellogg and the Jackie Greene Stables of Fort Ann, NY, paid $5 as the betting favorite. Kaporal was the runner-up while longshot Lindas In Heaven (Mcgwire Sowers) earned the show spot. The victory with St Lads Sterling was the third of what would be five on the night for Randall and three for Greene as that tandem teamed up for a victory with veteran pacer Wyatt J earlier in the evening and with local legend Artful Way later on the card.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Jessica Hallett
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York