Trainer Dave Dewhurst got off to a bit of a slow start to his 2019 campaign at Saratoga Casino Hotel but the most recent week’s action at the Spa is evidencing that the veteran conditioner has turned the corner. After winning Saturday night’s Open Pace with his JK Panache, Dewhurst scored three victories on the Wednesday card. Young trotter RX For Success (Credit Winner) began the day as a winner for Dewhurst whose Royal Bahama (RC Royalty) drew the rail for his start in one of the $9,000 co-featured races on the matinee program. Reinsman Jimmy Devaux was aggressive with Royal Bahama and retook the lead past the opening quarter with the race’s second choice in the wagering. After rebuffing the challenge of the favorite, Royal Bahama held off his rivals in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:58.1 to set a new lifetime mark. Dewhurst’s training hat trick was completed when Tournament (Deweycheatumnhowe) secured his first victory of the season, lasting on the lead in 1:58.3 in one of the co-features. Tournament, who came into the race with a host of second and third place finishes in recent months, wound up as the even money favorite as he wrapped up the three-win day for Dewhurst and for Devaux who piloted a trio of winners on the matinee card.
Live racing continues on Thursday afternoon featuring a Pick Five guaranteed pool of $5,000 and a race five triple pool with a $20,000 guarantee. First post time is set for 12:00pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
