Hestherightstuff (American Ideal) took the first-over journey to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Gary Levine, the 2020 leading trainer at the Spa, is the conditioner for Hestherightstuff who has done the majority of his damage this year while competing out of town. Enjoying success at both the Meadowlands and Tioga Downs, Hestherightstuff came into Saturday’s try in the Open Pace off a fourth-place finish in last week’s feature. Driver Billy Dobson pulled Hestherightstuff first-over in Saturday’s installment of the $15,000 Open and the six year old pacer just kept grinding on the outside before wearing down the race favorite who gave way around the final turn. Hestherightstuff’s tenacious effort was rewarded when he hit the line first in 1:54 to record his first ever Open win at the Spa. In what was the 50^th start of his career, Saturday’s victory was the 20^th lifetime win for Hestherightstuff. Seventh Secret (Jimmy Devaux), who upset in last weekend’s Open Pace while dismissed at odds of 89-1, again came from last this week and closed to finish second while Soul Assassin (Mitch Cushing) earned the show spot. Hestherightstuff’s Open score was one of two on the night for Levine, who owns the speedy pacer, and one of four for Dobson who enjoyed a four-win evening despite having just seven drives on the card. Early in the evening, the pair teamed up for a victory with young pacer Lyleground who matched his lifetime-best win time of 1:55 with a front-running score in a $8,000 race for colt and gelding pacers.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Shallow (Up The Credit) has spent much of her last few months racing against the top lady pacers both at Plainridge Park and at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Andy Gardner trainee finished second in the local Open for fillies and mares two weeks ago (Sept 11) but dropped in company off a sixth-place effort in last week’s ladies feature. Following a scratch on Monday, Shallow inherited the rail for her try in an $11,500 conditional race which served as the feature on the matinee card. Billy Dobson piloted the five year old mare who earned over $100,000 in her breakout 2022 campaign. Dobson moved Shallow out to the early lead where she would remain untested in a first half that went in 57.4. Her race’s odds-on betting favorite, Shallow kicked away from her rivals turning for home en route to victory in 1:54.3. Following up a twelve-win ’22 campaign, the five year old distaffer’s Monday score was just her third this season. Pocket-sitter HS Shauna (Luke Hanners) is in the midst of a terrific three-month stretch and continued her hot streak by finishing second to the favorite in Monday’s feature while Fond Memories A (Brett Beckwith) earned the show spot. Shallow is owned by Room4040 LLC Stables of Yorktown, NY.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Seventh Secret made his Open debut at Saratoga Casino Hotel earlier in the month and the veteran hit the board in two of his three starts in the regular Saturday feature heading into this weekend’s action. On Saturday, the Lisa Zabielski-trained twelve year old drew post eight for his try in the $15,000 Open Pace. Jimmy Devaux piloted Seventh Secret who was dismissed at eye-popping odds of 89-1 in what appeared on paper to be a wide-open feature. The action was hotly contested from the start in the feature as Seventh Secret got away last and was close to a dozen lengths away behind the leader in the opening quarter. While the deficit began to close a bit for the Zabielski trainee in the race’s middle half when three-quarters came up in 1:24, Seventh Secret remained eighth and last at that point. Closing on the far outside but still sixth at the top of the stretch, Seventh Secret hit his best strides and completed a swoop of the group by storming home in the race’s fastest final quarter before coming on to win in 1:53. A win mutuel of $181.50 resulted in the major shocker that saw Im No Outlaw N (Jay Randall) finish second and Pickup Man Hanover (Luke Hanners) earn the show spot. A $2 exacta returned $2,398 while a 50 cent triple came back a hearty $5,512.50. Seventh Secret, who is owned by Mark Salerno of Felton, DE, now owns 39 career victories and more than $627,000 in lifetime earnings. The win was one of four on the evening for leading driver Jimmy Devaux and one of a three for Zabielski who scored later in the night with her Datguyna Greensuit (Bettor’s Delight) and Juxlivin My Dream (Relentless Yankee) who each went wire-to-wire with Devaux in tow.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post time set for noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Always Watching (He’s Watching) became the second distaffer to win the Fillies and Mares Open four times this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel when on Monday, Jordan Derue’s talented five year old went coast-to-coast in the $15,000 feature. Always Watching has hit the board in every one of her starts dating back to early summer and on Wednesday, she survived a win photo to prevail over a sloppy track. Derue owns, trains and drives Always Watching who moved out to the front-end and carved out first-half fractions of 27 and 56 seconds. The co-second choice in the wagering at odds of 5-2, Always Watching was tracked every step of the way by the race’s favorite Oaxacan Dream N (Jimmy Devaux) who drew even in the stretch with the leader before coming up just shy in a close photo for win. Always Watching stopped the timer in 1:53.2 for her fifth victory of the year and fourth in the local Open. Oaxacan Dream N completed a $26.40 exacta while American Tour N (Wally Hennessey) rounded out a $141.50 triple. Always Watching, an earner of over $100,000 in 2022, is well on her way to another six-digit campaign in ’23. Her fourth score in the ladies’ Open matches La Bella Vita N for most for any mare this season at the Spa.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm. There will be a $2,649 carryover in the early Pick Five, a wager that begins in the first race.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

It was an historic afternoon for driver Wally Hennessey as Monday matinees returned to the racing calendar at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Hall of Fame reinsman performed a feat rarely achieved in track history as he piloted five consecutive winners on the card en route to six victories in total for the day. The 66 year old Hennessey is still on top of his game in the sulky and on Monday rattled off victories in five straight races on the program, the last of which coming in the day’s featured race. Hennessey guided the Jackie Greene-trained Alittlesidehustl N (He’s Watching) to a wire-to-wire victory in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open to complete his five-bagger. Alittlesidehustl N had won back-to-back Opens in April but was winless in the local feature from that point on until Monday. She was guided to the feature score by Hennessey who piloted winners in the afternoon’s second through sixth races before wrapping up a six-win day later in the card. Alittlesidehustl N finished second in last week’s (Sept 3) ladies’ feature before recording what was her fourth seasonal score on Monday. With the earnings from her victory, Alittlesidehustl N saw her career bankroll move to over the $200,000 mark for the Kellogg Racing and Jackie Greene Racing Stables who co-own the five year old distaffer. Her score in the Open came in 1:53.2 as she bested longshot Shallow (Billy Dobson) who came on to be second while Always Watching (Jordan Derue) finished third to hit the board for her seventh consecutive start. Alittlesidehustl N was the odds-on favorite and paid $3.90 to win leading an exacta and triple that came back $25.40 and $70, respectively.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Century Endeavor (Shadow Play) finished a strong second in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel two weeks ago when he drew the rail for his try in the feature. On Saturday night, the Melissa Beckwith trainee once again had the pole position in the Open and utilized it to his full advantage. Brett Beckwith piloted Century Endeavor to a wire-to-wire victory for the eight year old’s first win in the local Open. After powering out to a first quarter in 26.3, the veteran pacer got a bit of a breather before reaching the half in 56.2. The 6-1 shot kept rolling along and never faced much of a challenge en route to his 1:52.4 score. Seventh Secret (Jimmy Devaux), a 34-1 longshot, sat the pocket to the winner and finished second while Hestherightstuff (Billy Dobson) toughed out a first-over journey to finish third in the $16,050 Open. Century Endeavor, who is owned by Howard Jacobs of West Orange, NY, paid $15.60 to win in his first feature score and led an exacta and triple that returned $238.50 and $536, respectively. For trainer Melissa Beckwith, who sits second in the local trainer standings at the Spa this season, the win for Century Endeavor was her stable’s first Open Pace victory of the year.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyenne Mandy

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

The Finals for the Learn and Earn Series’ took place on Sunday evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The series’ for two year olds were implemented this season to give freshmen horses a chance to compete against other freshmen with an opportunity to “earn while they learn.” There were four legs of each series leading up to Sunday’s Finals. The Learn and Earn Pace Final saw a bit of unique circumstances as the horse that hit the wire third wound up being placed first following a double disqualification. The favorite in the $13,400 Final was Sand Dollar (Jimmy Devaux) who was on the front-end and battling with rival Kissapotamus (Dustin Miller) around the final turn. Kissapotamus interfered with Sand Dollar causing him to leave the course while on a break. In the meantime, Diamonds Choice (Dan Daley), the longest shot in the wagering, came charging hard in the stretch. When the dust settled, Kissapotamus hit the line first while Sand Dollar came back onto the course to edge Diamonds Choice. Kissapotamus was subsequently disqualified for the interference but Sand Dollar was deemed to have gained ground while on the break and thus had to be placed behind Diamonds Choice. Dan Daley trains and drives Diamonds Choice who, when all was said and done, emerged victorious to spring the upset at odds of 21-1. Sand Dollar wound up being placed second while Kissapotamus was placed third. Diamonds Choice is owned by Ann-Mari Daley and Bukers Stable.

The Learn and Earn Trotting Series Final saw an early speed duel between the top two betting choices. The $12,700 Final of the four-leg Series saw the favored Wow Love (Dan Daley) get parked the mile by two-leg winner Miss Chip Away (John Stark Jr). As those two sparred, Family Riches (Met’s Hall) got her cue to tip three-wide from driver Billy Dobson and the freshman filly trotted into a commanding lead around the last turn. Family Riches, who is trained by Chip Zombick Jr for owner Mike Pozefsky, stopped the timer in 2:00.2, a career-best clocking for the two year old. Miss Chip Away held second while Wow Love salvaged the show spot.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

On an evening that saw several big upsets at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Uncle Jord A was a longshot winner in the feature on Saturday night. Alicia Gray trains Uncle Jord A (Rock N Roll Heaven) who came into the evening with three victories in the local Open to his credit in 2023 but only one of which came in the last four months. In Saturday’s installment of the $17,000 Open Pace, Uncle Jord A was the longest shot in the morning line while drawing post position six. The race featured fast fractions of 27 and 56.2 in the first half and as the favorites duked it out, a host of longshots began to close in. With six horses separated by only four lengths turning for home, the scramble in the stretch was on. When the dust settled it was Uncle Jord A emerging with a 1:53.3 victory in a race in which he was dismissed at odds of 15-1. Talking Tom (Billy Dobson) closed to be second at 12-1 while 18-1 shot Pickup Man Hanover (Luke Hanners), last week’s Open winner, came on to earn the show spot. Uncle Jord A paid $33.40 to win and led big exotics which included a $309.50 exacta and a $4,100 triple. Uncle Jord A’s victory was his fourth in the Open this year for owner Doug Overhiser of New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Live racing continues on Sunday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Pickup Man Hanover (Huntsville) got another chance from post position two in the Open Pace on Saturday night. The Jaymes McAssey trainee made a wire-to-wire attempt in last weekend’s installment of the Open but came up second-best although he paced his mile in a sizzling 1:51.4. Tracked down last week, Pickup Man Hanover would not be denied on Saturday evening as Hall of Fame reinsman Wally Hennessey moved the four year old out to the early lead in a fast 27.1 opening quarter.

The Pickup Man kept rolling on the engine rattling off a half in 56.1 before checking in at three quarters in 1:23.4. This week, Pickup Man Hanover proved much the best as the talented McAssey trainee powered away from the competition late to win in 1:52.2 and register his first career victory in the Open Pace. Longshot Century Endeavor (Brett Beckwith) sat the pocket to the feature winner and held on to be second while dismissed at odds of 14-1 while Belmont Major N (Jimmy Devaux) came on to finish third. The James McAssey trainee paid $9.20 to win in what wound up being a two and a quarter length score as he led an exacta and triple that returned $61 and $180, respectively.

It was win number four on the season for Pickup Man Hanover who is owned by Dennis and Simone Noud of Saratoga Springs. McAssey completed a training double later in the evening when his American Artist K (Shawn Gray) recorded his second consecutive victory while competing in a race for claiming pacers.

Live racing continues on Sunday evening with a 6:45pm first post.

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Circuit Party is in the midst of a career year and on Friday night, the five year old extended his win streak to five by prevailing in the Open Trot. Wally Hennessey drove for trainer Dan Cappello Jr. as Circuit Party drew post eight for Friday’s try against the track’s top trotters. Hennessey was aggressive pulling the son of Donato Hanover approaching the opening quarter and raced almost the entire mile on the outside.

Coming in on a four-race win streak and as a winner of the Open for the first time last week (Aug 18), Circuit Party put the swoop to the group in the $18,200 feature getting the better of rival Duckdodgendive (Brett Beckwith) in the stretch.

In victory, Circuit Party became just the third high-stepper to win the Open in back-to-back tries in 2023. Duckdodgendive, who won his first career Open last month, was a strong second on Friday while Special Prosecutor (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot to hit the board for the third consecutive start in the local Open. Circuit Party paid $8.30 to win in a race that was evenly bet.

The exacta and triple in the feature returned $42 and $170, respectively. The win for Circuit Party was his tenth of the season in twenty three starts. With the earnings from his Friday score, the rising trotting star boosted his career earnings to over the $100,000 mark for owner Lisa Unltd LLC of Schenectady, NY who recently acquired the up-and-coming trotter.

Live racing continues on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York