Tag: Harness racing highlights
Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Racing Highlights 11/30 to 12/3/2024
Rock Candy made his Open Pace debut a winning one at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday (Nov 30). Jay Randall drove the eight-year-old gelding in the $15,000 feature for owner/trainer Zach Vickerson. Last week’s Open winner, Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) finished second while Primo Uomo (Jim Devaux) came in third. Rock Candy has finished first or second in nine consecutive starts since coming to the Spa in September.
Jordan Derue drives and trains Bluffinner, the winner of the featured Open Trot on Sunday (Dec 1). Derue also owns the seven-year-old gelding in partnership with FBP Racing Stable LLC. By The Book (Jay Randall) was the runner-up and Discus Hanover (Jim Devaux) took the show spot. This was the seventh win of the year for Bluffinner, four of which were in Open company.
Trainer Dale Lawton scored a pair of upsets on the Monday (Dec 2) card at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Freshman filly Wayward Blue Chip (Tall Dark Stranger) scored a wire-to-wire upset in the afternoon’s opener with Jim Devaux in the sulky. Dale Lawton owns Wayward Blue Chip with Chris Lawton. The Lawtons scored a double when Rocknroll Shelli won a $7,500 race for filly and mare pacers with driver Leon Bailey. Leading driver, Brett Beckwith, piloted five winners on Monday’s card.
Trainer, Mark Beckwith, and driver, Brett Beckwith, teamed up for a triple at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday (Dec 3). Brett sat behind his Prairie Classic as the four-year-old gelding went wire-to-wire in 1:57 to record his tenth win of the season. The next victory for Team Beckwith came when three-year-old pacing gelding Swiss Cotton parlayed a pocket ride to win in 1:55.1. Three-year-old trotting filly, Fly Delta, scored the third win for the Beckwith’s, winning an $8,000 race for young trotters. Swiss Cotton and Fly Delta are owned by William Hartt.
Brett Beckwith and Mark Beckwith will be recognized before the first race on Sunday (Dec 8) at Saratoga Casino Hotel for their 2024 titles. At the age of 21, Brett will win his first local driver’s title. His father, Mark, wrapped up the 2024 training title with a record number of victories by a trainer at the Spa.
Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5:00 pm. There is a carryover of $22,873 in the Jackpot High Five. Post time for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is 12:00 noon.
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett Photo – Jay Randall and Rock Candy
Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Racing Highlights 11/16 to 11/19/2024
Im No Outlaw N (Bettor’s Delight) utilized a class drop and the post position draw to go coast-to-coast in Saturday (Nov. 16) evening’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Jimmy Devaux sat behind the Jackie Greene trained nine-year-old gelding. Rock Candy (Jay Randall) and Carrythetorchman (Brett Beckwith) finished second and third, respectively. Kellogg Racing Stables LL and Jackie Greene Stables LLC own Im No Outlaw N.
Jay Randall piloted Scott Mongeon-trained By The Book (Chapter 7) to a win in the featured open trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday (Nov. 17). It was the eighth open win this season for the five-year-old gelding who is owned by Charles Harrison, Francis Barthelmas and Tina Murray. Urban Kemp (Matthew Athearn) took second place and Cash Me Out (Jordan Derue) finished third.
Trainer Mark Beckwith will wrap up the training title next month at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the veteran horseman’s stable has been the dominant force in the Fillies and Mares Open throughout the 2024 season. Beckwith drove Remy Brown N (Vincent) to victory on Monday (Nov. 18) in 1:54 for owners Steve Manzi and Pie San LLC. Racy Roxy A (Jay Randall) closed sharply to finish second while Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) came on to be third. The Open score was one of three wins for trainer/driver Mark Beckwith on Monday as His Wheres My Phone scored in her Spa debut and Straight And Sassy overcame post eight to prevail on the matinee card.
Paul Dudka scored a training double on Tuesday (Nov. 19) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The veteran conditioner went two-for-two when his Arion Magic and Jimmy Jets prevailed in their respective $8,000 races for young trotters. Phil Fluet drove three-year-old trotting filly, Arion Magic, to a win in 1:57, while Jay Randall piloted Jimmy Jets, a three-year-old gelding, who won in 1:57.1. Tina Rafferty owns both Arion Magic and Jimmy Jets.
Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5:00 pm. The jackpot high five will feature a carryover of $17,443. Post time for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is 12:00 noon.
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett Photo – Mark Beckwith driving Remy Brown N
Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Racing Highlights 11/9 – 11/12/2024
Tack Room Chatter (Huntsville) prevailed in the Saturday (Nov 9) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Mark Beckwith trainee scored in front-running fashion in the $13,000 Winners Over for pacers. Brett Beckwith drove the four-year-old gelding for owners Glenn Goller and Steve Demeter. Carrythetorchman (Wally Hennessey) finished second for the second consecutive week while Im No Outlaw N earned the show spot.
Dealin With Dewey (Wheeling N Dealin) won the featured Open Trot on Sunday (Nov 10) for the second week in a row at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Jared Bothwell trains the six-year-old gelding who was driven to the win by Aaron Byron for owner Sara Baillargeon. By The Book (Jay Randall) was the runner up, and Duckdodgendive (Brett Beckwith) came in third.
Laurie Lee (Royal Millenium) scored her first ever victory in the local Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday (Nov 11). Jimmy Devaux piloted the Peter Pellegrino-trained seven-year-old distaffer who went coast-to-coast in the feature. June Hamerla owns Laurie Lee. Arizona (Wally Hennessey) was a strong second to continue her sensational season while Magical Maya A (Larry Stalbaum) finished third.
Tiktok Roy (Swan In A Million) parlayed his pocket ride to victory in the Tuesday (Nov 12) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Billy Dobson piloted the four-year-old trotter for owner Rick Dobson and trainer Monica Krist. Mass Cara (Aaron Byron) finished second, and third place went to EEE Z Wow (Jay Randall).
Also on Tuesday, Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey scored a driving triple to add to his career win total. Hennessey is now in the top 10 for most driving wins in North America. The 68-year-old reinsman sits second in the Saratoga drivers’ standings for the 2024 season.
Live racing at Saratoga resumes on Saturday evening (Nov 16) with first post at 5:00 pm. There will be a Pick Five carryover of $4,956 beginning in race one on Saturday. The Jackpot in the Super High 5 is up to $14,502 with the wager offered in Saturday’s finale. Post time on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is 12:00 noon.
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett Photo – Wally Hennessey and Skylight
Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Racing Highlights 11/2 – 11/5/2024
General Montana N (Bettor’s Delight) captured the $15,000 featured Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday (Nov 2). Mitchell Cushing piloted the seven-year-old gelding to victory in 1:52.3 for trainer Amanda Kelley. Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) was the runner-up while Heaven On High N (Matthew Athearn) held on for third. Sartin Racing LLC of Bear, DE owns General Montana N.
Dealing With Dewey (Wheeling N Dealin) made his Saratoga Casino Hotel debut a winning one on Sunday (Nov 3). Aaron Byron drove the six-year-old Jared Bothwell trainee to a 1:55.1 win in the $15,000 Open Trot. Bluffiner (Jordan Derue) finished second, and Big Box Hanover (Matthew Athearn) took the show spot. Sara Baillargeon of Guelph, Ontario, owns Dealin With Dewey.
Jackie Greene trained Alittlesidehustl N (He’s Watching) recorded her fourth win in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2024 on Monday afternoon (Nov 4). Billy Dobson drove the six-year-old distaffer to a wire-to-wire win in the $15,000 feature. Last week’s Open winner Racy Roxy A (Jay Randall) came in second. Arizona (Wally Hennessey) finished third. Alittlesidehustl N is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene Stables.
Driver Jim Devaux swept the co-features at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday (Nov 5). Devaux piloted Facebook Official (Helpisontheway) and Henceforth (Huntsville) to victories in their respective $9,500 co-featured races. Facebook Official is a four-year-old gelding trained by Jesse McAssey and owned by Adam Friedland. Andy Gardner trains Henceforth, a three-year-old gelding, for owners Kevin Gale and Nicholas Mackey.
Live racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel resumes on Saturday evening November 9 at 5 pm. There is an $11,541 carryover in the Jackpot Super High 5. Post time on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is 12 noon.
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo – Dealing With Dewey