It has been a strong start to the 2026 racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel for Robyn Mangiardi. The longtime local conditioner and multiple Horsewoman of the Year Award winner regularly finishes among the top dozen trainers at the Spa. This year, Mangiardi once again is among the top echelon of local conditioners and added another pair of victories to her tally on the Tuesday afternoon card. Mangiardi doubled with young trotters Shalamar Hanover and Charly Blue in $9,000 races for high-steppers on the matinee program. Shalamar Hanover came into the day with one victory on the year but had hit the board in six of his ten seasonal starts with Chris Long in the sulky. Bet down to odds of 1-5, Shalamar Hanover marched out to the early lead and never had an anxious moment going coast-to-coast en route to a 1:59 score on a chilly April afternoon in Saratoga. The Mangiardi-Long double was completed when Charly Blue cruised to a front-running score in 2:00.1 to move his local record to two-for-two after putting the swoop to the group in his first Spa start last week (April 14). Mangiardi, who owns both of her Tuesday winners, has opened up the first few months of the racing season with a training average of over .360.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a matinee that begins at 12pm.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
