Rock Candy made his Open Pace debut a winning one at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday (Nov 30). Jay Randall drove the eight-year-old gelding in the $15,000 feature for owner/trainer Zach Vickerson. Last week’s Open winner, Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) finished second while Primo Uomo (Jim Devaux) came in third. Rock Candy has finished first or second in nine consecutive starts since coming to the Spa in September.
Jordan Derue drives and trains Bluffinner, the winner of the featured Open Trot on Sunday (Dec 1). Derue also owns the seven-year-old gelding in partnership with FBP Racing Stable LLC. By The Book (Jay Randall) was the runner-up and Discus Hanover (Jim Devaux) took the show spot. This was the seventh win of the year for Bluffinner, four of which were in Open company.
Trainer Dale Lawton scored a pair of upsets on the Monday (Dec 2) card at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Freshman filly Wayward Blue Chip (Tall Dark Stranger) scored a wire-to-wire upset in the afternoon’s opener with Jim Devaux in the sulky. Dale Lawton owns Wayward Blue Chip with Chris Lawton. The Lawtons scored a double when Rocknroll Shelli won a $7,500 race for filly and mare pacers with driver Leon Bailey. Leading driver, Brett Beckwith, piloted five winners on Monday’s card.
Trainer, Mark Beckwith, and driver, Brett Beckwith, teamed up for a triple at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday (Dec 3). Brett sat behind his Prairie Classic as the four-year-old gelding went wire-to-wire in 1:57 to record his tenth win of the season. The next victory for Team Beckwith came when three-year-old pacing gelding Swiss Cotton parlayed a pocket ride to win in 1:55.1. Three-year-old trotting filly, Fly Delta, scored the third win for the Beckwith’s, winning an $8,000 race for young trotters. Swiss Cotton and Fly Delta are owned by William Hartt.
Brett Beckwith and Mark Beckwith will be recognized before the first race on Sunday (Dec 8) at Saratoga Casino Hotel for their 2024 titles. At the age of 21, Brett will win his first local driver’s title. His father, Mark, wrapped up the 2024 training title with a record number of victories by a trainer at the Spa.
Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5:00 pm. There is a carryover of $22,873 in the Jackpot High Five. Post time for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is 12:00 noon.
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett Photo – Jay Randall and Rock Candy
