While Saturday night’s Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured the return of defending Horse of the Year Artful Way, it was a different returnee who wound up prevailing in the $14,500 feature. Somewhere Fancy (Somebeachsomewhere) has been competing at a high level at Yonkers for much of this season and was assigned post five in a six-horse Saturday Open. Billy Dobson piloted the Rene Allard trainee and powered him out to early lead. Part of a speed duel in the early going, Somewhere Fancy set sizzling fractions of 26.3 and 54.4 in the first half. Facing just mild pressure, Somewhere Fancy stepped on the gas and kicked away from his rivals after posting three quarters in 1:23 and cruised to victory in 1:51.1. Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) toughed it out first over and wound up as the runner-up in the Open Pace for the second consecutive week while Lachie Maguire N (Bruce Aldrich Jr) earned the show spot. Artful Way, who was coming from last and got caught very wide in the final half, never wound up being a factor as the race’s even money favorite. Somewhere Fancy, who has competed locally in the past, returned $6.20 to win in his first score in the local Open. The exacta and triple paid $40.60 and $116, respectively.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at 12:15pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa SImser-Iovino
