Mr Huggins sprung the mild upset in the Doc Frank Memorial Pace Final contested on Sunday after at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Larry Stalbaum-trained pacer was winless in his 2024 freshman campaign but discovered the winning way early in ’25. Mr Huggins entered the Doc Frank Memorial with three wins in six starts and by the time the series concluded, the three-year-old doubled that win total. In Sunday’s $31,400 Final, reinsman Matt Athearn powered Mr Huggins out to the early lead while dismissed at odds of 8-1. The sophomore rattled off first-half fractions of 27.4 and 57.3 while battling parked out rival Full Metal Jacket (Leon Bailey) who fought gamely every step of the way. Mr Huggins proved to be too tough and would not be denied the score in the Series Final as he stopped the timer in 1:54.4, a career-best clocking in the biggest race in his young career. Full Metal Jacket finished second while longshot Tricky Captain N (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot. Mr Huggins, who is owned by Gary Smith, paid $18.20 to win in what was the sixth victory of his season.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett – stock photo
