Justin Credible (Art Major) was a leg one winner in the JP Morel Memorial Pacing Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel two weeks ago when he put in a career-best effort for trainer-driver Brett Crawford. In Saturday night’s Series Final, the four year old gelding got looped while trying to leave but Crawford drove on to the front with Justin Credible who wound up setting sizzling fractions on the engine. After pacing a first half in 55.4, Justin Credible was met with challenges from several rivals and put them all away before drawing off to win in 1:53.3 to once again lower his lifetime mark. Longshot Conspiracy Theory (Jimmy Devaux) came on to be second while leg one winner Plus One (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot in the $31,400 Final of the series that honors the memory of longtime top driver JP Morel. Justin Credible entered the series with career earnings of just shy of $20,000 and more than doubled that number after prevailing in two of the three weeks of the Morel, including Saturday’s score. He paid $7.30 while pulling off the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that came back $80.50 and $164, respectively. Crawford, who has been this season’s breakout star at Saratoga, also piloted the winner of Thursday’s John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series Final as Spoiler Alert, just as did Justin Credible, picked a good time to set a lifetime mark. Justin Credible becomes the sixth winner of the annual JP Morel Memorial Pacing Series adding his name to the list of previous winners that includes Finnish First, Mach To The Max, Starznheaven, Hillbillycashflow and In A Single Bound.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a 12:15pm start to the matinee.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
