The Tuesday feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel was a $14,875 “Pop Up Final” for young colt and gelding pacers. The race was highlighted by three horses who won last week (Apr 28) and three more who were runners-up to those three winners. On Tuesday, Hurrikane Lillouie was the overwhelming 1-9 betting favorite while drawing the rail coming off a victory by nearly ten lengths in the “qualifying” race for the Pop Up Final. Aaron Byron drove Hurrikane Lillouie who got away third in a Tuesday race that wound up with big longshots slugging it out in the early going. The favorite swung first-over after a half in 58 seconds and wound up putting away the leader heading into the final turn. Although Hurrikane Lillouie held a lead of a length and a half turning for home, he was fully extended and under heavy urging as longshots Always On Par (Chris Long) and Beantown Miki (Leon Bailey) closed in. The two-pronged attack in the stretch proved to be too much for the favorite who gave way late and had to settle for a third-place finish. Always On Par, who came into the Tuesday feature 0-12 in the win column, closed sharply from off the pace and wound up coming on to break his maiden in a mile clocked in 1:58.1. Beantown Miki accelerated quickly in the passing lane before coming up second-best to the longshot winner. Always On Par paid $63.50 to win in the upset while Beantown Miki was the runner-up at odds of 33-1. Hurrikane Lillouie had to settle for the show spot. Always On Par is trained by Ryan Nelson who co-owns the four-year-old gelding with Patrick Gregory.
Live racing resumes on Saturday at Saratoga and will feature a carryover in the early Pick Four of $3,896. The Pick Four is a $1 wager and starts in the afternoon’s second race. First post time Saturday is set for 12pm.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
