Driver Jim Devaux scored a grand slam on the Tuesday card at Saratoga Casino Hotel aided by a win in the afternoon’s feature. The veteran reinsman, who has won three consecutive driving titles heading into the 2024 campaign, wound up inheriting the rail with Rocknroll Shelli in the $11,500 feature for fillies and mares following a scratch of the morning line favorite.

Rocknroll Shelli had been winless on the season in seven starts heading into Tuesday’s tilt but did have a trio of second-place finishes to her credit when she stepped up in company. Devaux powered the 9-2 shot away from the gate and secured the lead traveling unopposed in a first half that went in 58.2. Longshot Truly (Billy Dobson) came first-over on the leader and those two battled throughout the second half of the mile before Rocknroll Shelli stopped the timer in 1:55.1 for her first win of the season.

Truly, who was dismissed at odds of 19-1, came up second-best while P L Princess C (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot. Rocknroll Shelli paid $11.40 in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $119.50 and $550, respectively.

The winner is owned by Chris Lawton and her trainer Dale Lawton, both of New York. Devaux also piloted pacing mares Flames Of Fire, Hey Hey Dbay and Dancethebigdance N to Tuesday scores to complete his driving four-bagger.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

On Tuesday afternoon, Arizona (Up The Credit) won for the first time since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel earlier in the month. The Mark Beckwith-trained mare drew post seven in an eight-horse Fillies and Mares Open and driver Brett Beckwith found some early speed from the five year old distaffer who marched onto the front-end in the $15,000 Open.

The fractions were fast in the feature as Arizona clicked off first-half fractions of 27 and 56.3 before being confronted by defending Horse of the Year Always Watching (Jordan Derue) who toughed it out first-over.

The trip took its toll on the track’s top horse of 2023 and Arizona put that one away around the final turn. Pocket-sitting favorite Swedish Starlet N (Matt Athearn) took her shot at Arizona in the stretch but the chase proved futile as the Beckwith trainee held on to win in 1:55 for her first Open victory.

Swedish Starlet N was second-best to complete a $9.20 exacta while Always Watching held on to be third and round out a $59.50 triple. Arizona, who is owned by Wendy Warren Timpano, of Ontario, Canada, paid $4.90 to win in the mile clocked in 1:55.

The feature score was one of three on the day for the Beckwith stable and one of six for reinsman Brett Beckwith who has gotten his ’24 campaign off to a sensational start.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Jessica Hallett photo

Swedish Starlet N (Mach Three) continued her terrific start to the 2024 campaign at Saratoga Casino Hotel when on Tuesday the Jimmy Nickerson trainee won for the fourth time. Competing in the matinee’s $11,500 feature for fillies and mares, she was heavily backed in the wagering as her race’s 2-5 favorite on Tuesday when driver Matt Athearn wasted little time putting the seven year old on the front-end.

The New Zealand-bred distaffer never faced an anxious moment en route to a wire-to-wire score, her fourth victory in five local starts in ‘24. Longshot Fond Memories A (Larry Stalbaum) dropped out of the Open to finish second to Swedish Starlet N at odds of 13-1 to complete a $14.80 exacta while Goldies Adelight A (Ron Cushing) rounded out a $75.50 triple. Swedish Starlet N becomes a four-time winner on the young campaign for owners Tim Bojarski of Akron, NY and Anthony Gruppo of Bradenton, FL.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5pm. There will be a $2,642 carryover in the Pick Five pool with the wagering starting in the first race. The jackpot in the Super High 5 is up to a giant $16,893 in the Saturday finale.

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

By The Book has really turned himself into a formidable Open trotter this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Scott Mongeon-trained high-stepper scored a decisive win on Sunday afternoon in the $15,000 Open Trot to record his second feature score this season. By The Book, a five year old son of Chapter Seven, drew post five for his Sunday try and utilized his improved post to flash early speed and make an easy lead.

His regular driver Jay Randall got comfortable fractions for the 4-5 betting favorite who cruised unopposed through a first half in 57.4 before opening up a big lead on pocket-sitting City Of Hope past three quarters in 1:27. By The Book’s second Open score this year came in 1:56.2 by five and a half lengths. City Of Hope (Jimmy Devaux) was the longest shot on the board at odds of 44-1 but held strong to be second in the feature while Comeonover Hanover (Billy Dobson) closed to be third.

By The Book led an exacta and triple that paid $71 and $340.50, respectively. The Open winner is owned in partnership by Harrison, Barthelmas and Murray, all of New York.

Live racing continues on Monday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

Racy Roxy A (Mr Feelgood) became the first two-time winner of the Fillies and Mares Open this year at Saratoga Casino Hotel when she tracked down a legendary mare in the stretch to record a feature score on Tuesday afternoon. Rob Harmon trains the six year old Aussie invader who despite being an even-money shot in the wagering was the race’s second-choice of the bettors as Racine Bell was in town.

Racine Bell (Jimmy Devaux) brought close to $1.2 million in earnings into the Tuesday try which saw her cut the mile in the $15,000 Open. The favored mare moved quickly in first-half fractions of 27.1 and 57 seconds over a track labeled ‘sloppy.’ Racy Roxy A revved up the engine with 3/8 to pace and powered up and past Racine Bell as the featured mares reached the head of the stretch.

Racy Roxy A paced away from her rivals to report home a length and a half winner in a mile clocked in 1:54.  Racine Bell, the 4-5 public choice, was the runner-up while Arizona (Brett Beckwith) came on to finish third in her local debut. It was the second score in the Fillies and Mares Open for Racy Roxy A this season as she becomes the first distaffer to achieve that feat at the Spa in 2024.

Jay Randall piloted the Open winner, who is owned by Mike Casalino Jr of Freehold, NJ.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm. There will be a $2,871 carryover in the Pick Five which starts in the first race.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

Magical Maya A (Bettor’s Delight) put in maybe the most impressive mile of the young season at Saratoga Casino Hotel when on Tuesday she went coast-to-coast in the matinee’s feature. Larry Stalbaum owns, trains and drives the six year old Aussie invader who hit the board in two of her first three starts in the local Fillies and Mares Open this year.

On Tuesday, Stalbaum powered the 6-1 shot out in first-half fractions of 27.0 and 55.0 as longshot Alittlesidehustl N  (Billy Dobson) tracked the leader’s every move from the pocket.

The rest of the field in the $15,000 Open was strung out and Magical Maya A just never let up, pouring it on to lead past three quarters in a dazzling 1:22.4 before hanging on to win in 1:52.1. The speedy mare lowered her lifetime mark by close to three seconds in the victory that took place on a spring-like 60 degree afternoon in Saratoga.

Alittlesidehustl N was the runner-up at odds of 21-1 while Racy Roxy A (Jay Randall) came from a long way back to finish third. Magical Maya A paid $15.40 to win in the upset as she joined veteran distaffer Miss Irish Rose A as Stalbaum trainees to pull off surprises on Tuesday’s card.

The twelve year old Miss Irish Rose A won for the first time this season while competing in a race for claiming filly and mare pacers. Stalbaum is the owner, trainer and driver for both of his stable’s Tuesday winners.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

2023’s Horse of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel recorded her first win of the ’24 season on Tuesday afternoon. Jordan Derue owns, trains and drives pacing mare Always Watching (He’s Watching) who was a total force last year winning ten times, nine of which came in the local Fillies and Mares Open.

Always Watching drew poorly for her first two starts back in ’24 and didn’t prove to be a factor in either of the tries but on Tuesday, Derue’s stable star drew post three for her start in the $15,000 feature which saw her capture the early lead. The six year old distaffer cruised through first half fractions of 27.4 and 57.2 while bracing for race favorite Probert (Brett Beckwith).

Probert owned a first and second place finish in her two local starts in the Open this year but came up a bit short of tracking down Always Watching and recording another feature score.

Always Watching held on to prevail in 1:54.3 to register her first win of the year. Paying $8.30 to win as the second-choice in the wagering, Always Watching led an exacta with Probert second that returned $28.80 while Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) completed a $252 triple.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

Racy Roxy A (Mr Feelgood) won the Saratoga Casino Hotel Open for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Trainer Rob Harmon had a double on the card led by her A who was a wrapped-up winner at the wire. The even-money betting favorite in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open, Racy Roxy A cruised out to the early lead and remained untested through a first half in 57.3.

Driver Jay Randall asked the favorite for more heading towards the three-quarter pole and Racy Roxy A paced away from her rivals to build an insurmountable lead before reporting home a measured winner of a length in a mile clocked in a career-best 1:54.4. Probert (Brett Beckwith), last week’s Open winner, came up second-best on Tuesday while Magical Maya A (Larry Stalbaum), the runner-up in the season’s first feature for mares, closed to finish third.

Racy Roxy A, who paid $4.20 to win, was one of two winners on the card for Rob Harmon and one of three for Randall as that tandem combined for a victory with young pacing mare Two Star Magic who set a lifetime mark in prevailing for the second consecutive week. Racy Roxy A is owned by Mike Casalino Jr of Freehold, NJ.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY

Jessica Hallett photo

Probert (Dali) made every pole a winning one on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel as she recorded a decisive win in the season’s first installment of the Fillies and Mares Open. Brett Beckwith piloted the Bruce Mattison-trained mare who cruised out to an early lead that she would never relinquish. The seven year old traveled unopposed in a first half of 57.2 and never faced a legit threat before scampering away from her rivals to record a better than three-length victory in the $15,000 ladies’ feature.

Magical Maya A (Larry Stalbaum) moved first-over approaching the three-quarter pole and while she never posed much of a problem to the leader did hold strong to be the runner-up to Probert while invader Racy Roxy A (Jay Randall) closed to finish third. Probert, who is owned in partnership by Howard Jacobs, Jim Winske and Marcus Kemblowski, enjoyed a six-figure 2023 campaign which saw her earn more than $120,000.

Tuesday’s victory was the first in three ’24 tries for Probert whose driver Brett Beckwith piloted three winners on the card and whose trainer Bruce Mattison had a pair of victories of his own. Probert paid $4.00 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $16.80 and $39, respectively.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5pm.

Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Photo:  Jessica Hallett

Trainer Jaymes McAssey looks like he’ll finish fifth in the trainer standings in what has been a strong season at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the young conditioner. On Tuesday, McAssey scored a training double including a victory in the matinee’s feature. Rock A Honey (All Bets Off) moved to the McAssey stable last month and put in three strong efforts upon coming to the Spa.

The three year old finished second in his first two starts out of McAssey’s barn before toughing out a third-place finish despite being parked the mile in last. In Tuesday’s $9,500 feature for colt and gelding pacers, Rock A Honey was tasked with overcoming a first-over journey as the 9-5 second choice in the wagering with Billy Dobson in the bike. The sophomore was up to the task and wore down the leader before emerging victorious in a 1:56.3 mile. Longshot B Cool Fool (Matt Athearn) followed Rock A Honey’s cover to finish as the runner-up while the favored Aces Or Bettor (Chris Long) shook loose late to earn the show spot.

Rock A Honey, who is owned in partnership by David Del Pozzo and Paul Paoletti, completed the McAssey stable double after the conditioner saw his Caviart Cherie (Jimmy Devaux) score in the afternoon’s opener.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a 5pm first post time.

Mike Sardella

Jessica Hallett photo

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York