It was a big day at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday for trainer Brett Derue and driver Jimmy Devaux. That combo teamed up for a pair of victories on the matinee card including a dazzling win in the afternoon’s pacing feature. Simple Kinda Man (Sportswriter) was impressive in his first two starts at the Spa out of the Derue barn and drew the rail for his try in the $12,850 pacing feature on Monday. Devaux powered the six year old out from his inside post right to the lead and from there, it was pretty special. After clocking a first half in 54.4, Simple Kinda Man just kept rolling along and opened up a commanding lead before stopping the timer in 1:50.3 which, at the time, was the fastest mile of the meet at the Spa. Derue and Devaux also teamed up for a victory with conditioned pacer Dramatist who was the easiest kind of winner on Monday. Derue had a training hat trick on the card as his Nothing To Prove repeated in a $12,500 claimer with Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey in the bike. All three of Derue’s winners either set a new lifetime mark or matched their previous career-best score on the day. In addition to guiding two of Derue’s winners, Devaux also scored a pair of victories behind the Dale Lawton-trained pacers Lindas In Heaven and No Schmo Joe and vaulted into the lead among local drivers supplanting Billy Dobson for the first time in almost two years.

The Open Trot was contested on Monday afternoon as well and had the same result as last week’s installment of the $14,000 feature for high-steppers as Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) rolled to another victory for driver Phil Fluet, trainer Kyle Spagnola and owner Mike Traylor. It was the fifth win in the local Open this season for the veteran trotter who added to his $1.25+ million in career earnings with his wire-to-wire score. The fastest clocking of the meet came when former Saratoga Pacer of the Year Crockets Cullen N went coast-to-coast in 1:50.3 for owner/trainer/driver Larry Stalbaum.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga when two year old trotting fillies take center stage as part of the New York Sire Stakes to comprise the back half of the fifteen-race matinee card. First post time is set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanna Mandy

Surreal Feeling (So Surreal) has been nothing shy of surreal again this year and on Wednesday afternoon, the superstar mare added another win to her tally at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The six year old mare, who has been a winning machine over the course of her career, prevailed for the 29^th time in just 79 lifetime starts Wednesday when she went coast-to-coast in the $14,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Surreal Feeling won from off the pace in her previous local try but this week driver Alek Chartrand didn’t waste any time getting the speedy stalwart to the front-end. After sizzling through a first quarter in 26.2, Surreal Feeling reached the half in 55 seconds in a race that had an accident occur in the early going at the back of the pack. Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) finished second in last week’s Open at the Spa and took her shot at Surreal Feeling in this one nearly tracking her down in the stretch before finishing as the runner-up for the second straight week. The win time was 1:52.4 for Surreal Feeling who was the public’s 3-5 betting favorite in the feature. Miss Irish Rose A completed a $26.40 exacta while invader Vicious Circle (Jimmy Devaux) rounded out a $184 triple in a race that saw Come Get The Cash be interfered with and unseat her driver before getting loose on the track for a couple of minutes. None of the horses or drivers involved in the incident appeared to be injured. Surreal Feeling, who became the first horse to win as many as five Opens at the Spa thus far this season, is owned by Chris Lawton and her trainer Dale Lawton.

Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post set for Noon.

Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) has been winning Opens for years at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The ten year old trotter was at it again on Tuesday afternoon as the Kyle Spagnola trainee went coast-to-coast in the $14,000 Open Trot. Cash Me Out worked hard in the early going on Tuesday making the lead in a 27.1 first quarter. After reaching the half in 57 seconds, Cash Me Out traveled largely unopposed through three quarters that went in 1:26.2. A first-over Brady Bunch (Steve Genois) fought gamely but proved to be no match for the winner who stopped the timer in 1:55.2 to record his sixth win of the season. The final time set a new seasonal mark for Cash Me Out who moved his career earnings to over the $1.26 million mark. Brady Bunch toughed it out to be second while Exarch (Jimmy Devaux), who won the previous two installments of the Open Trot, closed to finish third. Cash Me Out was the 3-5 betting favorite on Tuesday and led an exacta and triple that paid $17.40 and $65.50, respectively. The victory vaulted Cash Me Out into the lead among local Open trotters this season as it was his fourth against the Spa’s top high-steppers. Phil Fluet piloted the Open winner for owner by Mike Traylor of Ballston Spa, NY.

Live racing continues on Wednesday at Saratoga with a first post time set for Noon. The Jackpot in the Pick Six sits at $4,076 while the Jackpot for the Super High Five is $6,926.

Mike Sardella
Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Sports Obsession (Sportswriter) made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday to compete in the Open Pace. The Jimmy Nickerson-trained pacer raced at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts for the last month after a strong stint at the Spa in which he had a first, a second and a third in three tries in the local feature. On Monday, Sports Obsession drew post four in the $14,000 Open and driver Jimmy Devaux powered the four year old out to the early lead. The Nickerson trainee sizzled on the engine hitting the quarter in 26.3 before reaching the half in 55.4. The race’s 1-5 betting favorite put in his bid first-over but never got close to the leader before fading from the scene. Sports Obsession, who went off at odds of 9-1, clicked off three quarters in 1:24 before holding firm in the stretch to prevail in 1:53.1 to record his second win in the local Open this season. Macheasy A (Chris Long) sat the pocket to the winner and finished second while longshot Wyatt J (Billy Dobson) closed to be third in the five-horse feature. Sports Obsession paid $20.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $86 and $343, respectively. The four year old boosted his career earnings to over the quarter million dollar mark on Monday for owner Joseph Trice of Hampden, ME. The final four races on Monday’s card were canceled.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

There has seemingly been only one horse that has stopped Robyn Camden at Saratoga Casino Hotel in recent years. The Rob Harmon trainee has been the dominant force in the local Fillies and Mares Open when she’s come to town in the last few seasons. A winner of at least one local feature in each of the last three years, Robyn Camden owned two victories in the Open at the Spa this in 2021 before being a beaten favorite in her two previous tries in the $14,000 feature for distaffers. Surreal Feeling has been a winning machine and bested Robyn Camden in each of her last two tries in the Open. On Wednesday afternoon, Surreal Feeling wasn’t in town and Robyn Camden took full advantage. Bet down as the public’s 1-5 favorite, Robyn Camden wasted little time moving out the lead as driver Greg Merton got her to the engine in a first quarter of 27.2. The favorite traveled unopposed while maintaining a length and a half lead throughout the entire mile before stopping the timer in 1:53.3 to record her third win in the local Open this season. Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) sat the pocket to the winner and finished second in the feature while Come Get The Cash (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot. Robyn Camden is owned by Jason Osullivan of Dublin, Ireland.

Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon at Saratoga with a 12 race card set to begin at Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

A two year old pacer stole the show on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trainer/driver Dan Daley brought just one horse to the Spa to compete on Tuesday after securing two wins and two seconds with his young horses on Monday’s matinee. Daley’s Blue Collar Man (Bolt The Duer- Celebrate America-Allamerican Native) made his lifetime debut on Tuesday following an impressive qualifier at Vernon Downs in which he won by better than nine lengths in a mile paced in 1:56.1. The freshman was co-favored in his lifetime debut at odds of 7-5 and his attack was nothing short of sensational.

Blue Collar Man powered out to the front-end at the start and opened up a big lead in the early stages of his debut. The freshman clicked off first-half fractions of 29 and 59.1 before extending his lead to an insurmountable margin and stopping the timer in 1:55.1. A two year old making his lifetime debut over a track listed as ‘good’ pacing 1:55.1 and winning by, coincidentally, the exact same nine and a quarter length margin that he won his qualifier by. Keep an eye on this Daley trainee as summer progresses as the effort we witnessed on Tuesday was nothing shy of dazzling for a two year old. Gussy’s Trump Card (Larry Stalbaum) was the co-favorite in the race and finished a well-beaten second to Blue Collar Man while Jovian (Steve Genois) earned the show spot.

Live racing continues on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga with first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Exarch (Cantab Hall) has established himself as a formidable Open trotter at Saratoga Casino Hotel in recent weeks and on Monday afternoon, the six year old won the trotting feature for the second consecutive week. Exarch was the runner-up two weeks ago (June 7) in his debut in the local Open and followed it up with a pocket-sitting score last Monday (June 14). In this week’s installment of the $14,000 Open, Exarch was assigned the outside post and blasted out at the start under the guidance of reinsman Jimmy Devaux. Parked out in the early going, Devaux went pedal to the metal with Exarch who didn’t stop until he reached the top getting to the lead in a demanding first quarter of 27.1. Released at odds of 7-2 in an evenly bet featured race, Exarch cruised through a half in 56.3 before being confronted by millionaire trotter Cash Me Out (Phil Fluet) who took the leader to task. Those two slugged it out toe-to-toe throughout the entire final half before Exarch put him away in the final strides. Stopping the timer in 1:56.1, Exarch won for the fifth time this season and third time in the last five starts since moving to the stable of trainer John Gerow last month. The rising star among local trotters paid $9.60 to win and led an exacta with Cash Me Out second that came back $40.20. Brady Bunch (Steve Genois) closed to finish third and round out a $148.50 triple. Exarch is owned by the Fortune Valley Stable of Ballston Spa, NY.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga. The carryover in the Jackpot Pick Six has climbed to $2,901. The Super High Five Jackpot is up to $4,982 and that wager takes place in the final race on every program. Both bets are 20 cent wagers. First post is set for Noon.

Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Wednesday marked the conclusion of the sixth annual Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The series for fillies and mares was highlighted by a dominant force as Rckaroundtheclock N (A Rocknroll Dance) brought her sensational win streak to the track as the big favorite in the $32,500 O’Brien Memorial Final. The Amanda Kelley trainee came into the Final with eight wins in nine starts this year since coming over from New Zealand during the offseason. Rckaroundtheclock N’s only defeat came at Yonkers Raceway this spring and not only has the mare not lost a race in about three months but heading into Wednesday, she hadn’t trailed at any quarter pole since suffering her rare defeat. Going coast-to-coast on a weekly basis, the five year old mare competed in her biggest race yet on Wednesday afternoon and she again proved up to the task.

Greg Merton has been the regular driver for Rckaroundtheclock N this year and the veteran reinsman was forced to change tactics with the star distaffer this week. Drawing post position seven in Wednesday’s Series Final, Rckaroundtheclock N again showed her characteristic early speed but with several leavers inside of her was forced to settle in mid-pack in the early going. After leader Clemmie Hanover (Brian Cross) got to the first quarter in 27.2, she backed things down a bit before reaching the half in 57.2. It was at that point when the 2-5 betting favorite made her move. Rckaroundtheclock N surged up first-over and attacked Clemmie Hanover who fended off the favorite for a while before succumbing to the pressure around the final turn. As Rckaroundtheclock N took the lead, though, leg-one winner American Chance (Jimmy Devaux) tipped off her cover and tried to gun the favorite down in the stretch. Those two went toe-to-toe before Rckaroundtheclock N and her “don’t take no for an answer” mentality kicked in and was the deciding factor. She stopped the timer in 1:55.4 to prevail in the $32,500 Final and complete the series’ sweep. American Chance was the runner-up and has now finished first or second in five consecutive starts. Clemmie Hanover, a leg two winner, earned the show spot. Rckaroundtheclock N’s odds of 2-5 were actually the highest she’s had attached to her in almost three months! She paid $2.90 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $5.30 and $8.80 in the chalky Series Final.

Rckaroundtheclock N, who is owned by the Scheigert Racing Stable of Saratoga Springs, NY, adds her name to the list of previous O’Brien Memorial winners which consists of Karla Art, Shesnobeachboy, Nashurallability, Maggies Way and Reflexionofroyalty. Merton and Kelley became the sixth different driver and trainer, respectively, to win the series in its history.

Live racing takes place every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Saratoga with first post times set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Larry Stalbaum has been riding a hot streak of late at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Tuesday, the veteran horseman added three wins to his growing tally. Stalbaum owns, trains and drives a trio of pacers who each recorded victories on Tuesday with each doing it in very different fashion. Stalbaum’s American Zest A (American Ideal) was the 2-5 betting favorite in the $11,250 Tuesday feature for pacers. The seven year old wound up moving first-over after a first half that went in 55.1 before powering past the leader and drawing out to win in a sparkling 1:52.2. For American Zest A, it was victory number four on the season and for Stalbaum, it was number three on the day. His Shady City (Metropolitan) won despite being parked the mile for the second consecutive week as he toughed out an overland journey to score in 1:56 in the afternoon’s opener for claiming pacers. Itsonlyrocknroll A (Million Dollar Cam) prevailed the old fashioned way as he went coast-to-coast 1:54.1 for Stalbaum in an $8,500 pace in which he was claimed out of. Stalbaum came into the week tied for fourth in the trainer standings and has piled up four wins in the two race days thus far following a Monday score from trotter Mr Cool Seaeyre N and the Tuesday hat trick.

Live racing continues on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Exarch (Cantab Hall) had a strong showing last Monday (June 7) when making his local debut in the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel. John Gerow trains the six year old gelding for the Fortune Valley Stable of Ballston Spa, NY and after finishing second in last week’s feature while dismissed at odds of 9-1, Exarch got a bit more board support this week when he drew post five for his second start in the local Open. Jimmy Devaux piloted Exarch who utilized his early speed to come away in the pocket behind the race’s favorite Gigfy. Exarch sat patiently as Gigfy cruised through three quarters in 1:26.2 before taking his shot turning for home when Devaux popped the pocket. Gigfy faltered late and Exarch surged by to prevail in 1:56.4 and record his first ever win in the Open Trot at Saratoga. Hot Wheelz (Chris Long), who was making his debut in the Open, closed sharply late in the mile and passed several rivals before finishing second. Gettin Messi (Wally Hennessey) came on to be third. Exarch paid $9.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $111 and $405.50, respectively. The win was the fourth of the season for Exarch and the second since moving to the Gerow barn a little over a month ago.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a matinee starting at Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino