Monday afternoon was a big one for Brett Beckwith at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The young reinsman took home the Johnny Page Award for the track’s top up-and-coming driver in 2021 and the son of driver Mark Beckwith has established himself as one of the top catch-drivers as the Spa in ’22. Brett scored his first local grand slam on Monday’s matinee highlighted by guiding a trio of Melissa Beckwith trainees to victories. Precious Alexis scored decisively on the engine in a $7,000 conditional race for fillies and mares to make good at odds of 1-2. A beaten favorite when trying to come from last in her seasonal debut last week, Precious Alexis wasted no time grabbing the early lead on Monday and despite moving through a first half of 57.2 powered away to win by five and a half lengths in a mile clocked in 1:55. Yummy Candy also made good at odds-on when she went coast-to-coast for Beckwith in a $9,000 race for young fillies and mares while Mckella led it every step of the way before stopping the timer in 1:55.4. Brett’s grand slam was completed when the Jaymes McAssey-trained Aintnohollabackgrl aired by seven lengths in 1:56.2. Beckwith has begun his season in the top five in the local driver standings after enjoying his biggest ever days at the Spa on Monday.
Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a 5pm first post.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser
