Toreador GB (Matador Hall) handled his step up in class with relative ease on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the Robert Cleary-trained pacer prevailed in the matinee’s feature. The British invader rattled off back-to-back victories to begin his local career when competing in the non-winners of two race lifetime condition with leading driver Brett Beckwith in the sulky. On Wednesday, the five-year-old moved up into the $9,500 featured race for pacers and drew post five for his try. Beckwith moved the 1-2 betting favorite out to the early lead, a lead he would never relinquish. Toreador GB cruised unopposed through a first half in 59 seconds and opened up by open lengths around the final turn before reporting home a decisive winner in 1:56.3 over a track labeled ‘sloppy.’ For Cleary, his record moved to five-for-five on the young season with the win. Toreador GB is owned by L P D Racing of East Windsor, NJ.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12pm.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo