Friday night featured the final of the Holiday Pacing Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Horses that battled it out in two weeks worth of $7,500 per division squared off in the seven-horse $20,000 final as closing weekend of the meet got underway. Brett Crawford’s Nitro Glistening (Badlands Nitro) was a two-leg winner in the series and was one of two of the final’s participants seeking a sweep. Nitro Glistening drew the outside post in the final but was aided by the scratch of a rival. Crawford blasted the race’s 3-5 betting favorite out early but they found themselves parked out in a first quarter of 27.3. After making the lead, Nitro Glistening enjoyed a bit of a breather before being asked for his best around the final turn. The five year old pacer responded and kicked away in the stretch to win decisively, stopping the timer in 1:56.1 to complete his series sweep. UF Lana Rae (Jimmy Devaux) finished second in each leg of the series and wound up as the runner-up in the final as well. Hawaii And Sun (Frank Coppola Jr) earned the show spot. The exacta paid $10.40 and the triple came back $24.60. Nitro Glistening’s victory is the latest on the season for Brett Crawford who has enjoyed a breakout campaign as a driver in 2018 and will be recognized with the Johnny Page Award for the track’s top breakthrough driver at the conclusion of the meet.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga as closing weekend for the ’18 campaign continues. First post is set for 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
