Trainer Kyle Spagnola continued his strong start to the meet on Tuesday at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the top-flight conditioner scored a win in the featured pacing race on the card. Rollinwithambition (Roll With Joe) had a solid 2020 campaign in which he hit the board in 19 of his 24 starts and on Tuesday, the five year old gelding drew the rail in the $8,000 featured race. Jimmy Devaux sat behind Rollinwithambition who powered out from his inside post to secure the early lead and never looked back making his ’20 debut a winning one in 1:57.1 on a cold, windy day in the Spa City. Spagnola, who won a pair of races on Monday’s card, continued his strong start to the Saratoga racing season with the victory. Rollinwithambition paid $11.20 to win in the mild upset.

Last year’s top connections, driver Billy Dobson and trainer Gary Levine, teamed up for a pair of wins on the Tuesday card with Dobson guiding Levine-trained pacers Furious Beach and Hestherightstuff to victories. Dobson piloted four winners in total on Tuesday’s matinee. Last season’s leading driver and trainer will team up on Wednesday afternoon in the year’s first Open as Bontz N takes center stage to compete among the group of top distaffers in the $11,000 Fillies and Mares Open. First post time is set for 12 Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

The tandem of trainer Jaymes McAssey and driver Shawn Gray scored a double on closing day at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday. The young conditioner and the veteran reinsman won the final feature of 2020 with Always Mindy (Always A Virgin) who made her local debut in the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open.

Always Mindy was a $10,000 claim for McAssey at Plainridge back in September and after enjoying some success in Massachusetts this fall, the six year old mare made her Spa debut on Tuesday. In a race filled with early speed, Always Mindy sat back patiently in a first lap that went in 55.2.

The big favorite Racine Bell (Jimmy Devaux) was on the engine as she sought her third consecutive win in the local Open. The fractions took their toll on the public’s odds-on choice and Always Mindy surged past her in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:53.4. Racine Bell was second while Come Get The Cash (Jay Randall) finished third. Always Mindy paid $17.80 in the Open upset and led an exacta and triple that came back $33.20 and $131, respectively. Always Mindy is owned by Greg Gardiner of Sheridan, MI.

McAssey and Gray completed their Tuesday double when claiming pacer Gottalovemyshadow (Shadow Play) made her return from Plainridge a winning one going coast-to-coast as the big favorite in her $4,250 race for distaffers. McAssey owns the six year old mare who had another solid year and won for the seventh time in 23 seasonal tries on Tuesday. Gray catch-drove pacer Nagle to victory to trainer Amanda Kelley later in the card to complete his hat trick on closing day.

Before the race card began, Billy Dobson and Gary Levine were awarded plaques in the winner’s circle in recognition of their achievements as leading driver and trainer, respectively, for the 2020 campaign. For Dobson, it was local driving title number eight while Levine took home the training title for the first time in his career. Racing is set to resume at Saratoga in early March of 2021. Until then, be well!

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Talbotcreekwhiskey (Somebeachsomewhere) emerged victorious in the final Open of the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday. In what may have been the best race of any local Open this year, the Justin Sodano-trained Talbotcreekwhiskey got parked the mile to the outside of the favorite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum). The defending Pacer of the Year at the Spa, Crockets Cullen N gave the cold shoulder to the invader in a race that featured first-half fractions of 26.4 and 55.3. While those two slugged it out, Olde Broadside (Alek Chartrand) came from last in the six-horse co-feature and dropped back to the inside around the final turn. It looked as if Talbotcreekwhiskey had finally had enough after being parked every step of the way but his pursuit of the leader continued in the stretch before he reached up to take over in the final strides. Talbotcreekwhiskey overcame the journey and stopped the timer in 1:54.3 to be an unlikely Open winner with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky. Olde Broadside closed for second while Crockets Cullen N earned the show spot in the $10,000 Open. Talbotcreekwhiskey paid $4.90 to win as the second-choice in the wagering and led an exacta and triple that came back $41.80 and $128.50, respectively.

The co-featured trotting race on the card went the way of Winning Legends (Winning Mister) who went coast-to-coast for trainer-driver Justin Huckabone. The four year old trotter had one win in his two local tries in the Open this season heading into Monday’s try in which he had little difficulty scoring in 1:56.3. Gruden (Billy Dobson) sat the pocket and finished second after winning a place photo with Stone In Love (Brian Cross) who came up third-best. Winning Legends was the 3-5 betting favorite in the final installment of the $10,000 Open Trot for the 2020 campaign. The exacta and triple paid $8.10 and $25, respectively, in the trotting feature.

Tuesday afternoon is closing day at Saratoga. Billy Dobson and Gary Levine will be recognized in the winner’s circle with plaques recognizing their seasons as the leading driver and trainer, respectively. First post time for closing day is set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Driver Shawn Gray came in to pilot two horses on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The veteran reinsman sat behind the Jaymes McAssey-trained Nerve Of Steel (Art Official) and Pasultimatedelite N (Bettor’s Delight). The former went wire-to-wire in a $5,200 claiming race while the latter sprung an upset in the $5,850 featured race for the ladies. Eleven year old Pasultimatedelite N is having a terrific 2020 campaign and won for the tenth time of the season on Tuesday. After going coast-to-coast last week, Pasultimatedelite N came from off the pace on Tuesday as Gray piloted the veteran distaffer perfectly, getting her cover heading to three quarters. With the track’s most consistent mare of the last two years Bontz N (Billy Dobson) on the engine, Pasultimatedelite N came charging hard in the stretch before springing the upset at odds of 8-1. The favorite Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) came on to be second while Bontz N held on to be third. Pasultimatedelite N paid $19.60 to win in the upset.

Nerve Of Steel N moved to claimers at Saratoga for the first time in a long time. The McAssey trainee cruised out to an early lead with Gray at the helm and proved dominant in a mile that went in 1:56.3. Nerve Of Steel N is owned by Pat O’Brien of New Hyde Park, NY who co-owns Pasultimatedelite N with George Hartman of Monroe Township, NJ. McAssey has had a terrific 2020 season and added two more victories to his strong tally on Tuesday with Gray guiding the way.

Live racing has just one week remaining for the season. Monday and Tuesday matinees will begin at Noon next week with Monday’s card highlighted by a Pick Five carryover of $2,787. The Pick Five is a 50 cent minimum wager and begins in the afternoon’s first race.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Trainer Kyle Spagnola and driver Phil Fluet won the Open Trot together for the third consecutive Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Though that feat is impressive enough, it is made all the more noteworthy due to the fact that the three Opens have been won by three different horses. Two weeks ago, Waiting On A Woman went coast to coast to win the trotting feature while Cash Me Out got the job done last week (Nov 9). On Monday, If Not Why Not (Muscle Mass) made his second career start in the local Open and drew post four for his try in the $10,000 co-feature. Fluet moved the Spagnola trainee out to the early lead and went unchallenged in a first half that went in 57.4. Pocket-sitting Gruden (Billy Dobson) got geared up to go around the final turn and gave If Not Why Not all he could handle in the stretch before coming up just shy in a mile clocked in 1:56.3. If Not Why Not paid $12.60 in the mild upset and led an exacta with Gruden second that returned $24.40. Longshot TT’s D-Jay was placed third after a disqualification and completed a $153.50 trifecta. If Not Why Not is owned by Mike Polansky of Loudonville, NY.

The pacing half of the co-featured races on Monday went the way of a track superstar. Artful Way was Saratoga’s first ever three-time Pacer of the Year when he earned the honors each season from 2016-2018 but the Jackie Greene-trained stalwart is still on the comeback trail following an injury sustained last season. With just a dozen starts to his credit over the last two years, Artful Way has been in the Open Pace every week for the last five and after a second and a third-place finish in his last two secured his first Open win of the season on Monday. Sitting the pocket to the 1-5 favorite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum), Artful Way took his shot around the final turn and had enough to get the better of the defending Pacer of the Year before stopping the timer in 1:54.1 for his first Open victory in more than eighteen months. Crockets Cullen N was the runner-up while Blaise MM Hanover (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Artful Way, who is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables, LLC of Queensbury, NY and was piloted by Billy Dobson, paid $8.90 to win on Monday.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a Noon start to the card.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

After the conclusion of Tuesday’s card, only two weeks remain in the racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trainer Melissa Beckwith came into the day trailing Gary Levine by four wins in the battle for the training title. Seeking her ninth training championship at the Spa, Beckwith had two winners on Tuesday to close the gap slightly. Make A Statement A (Bettor’s Delight) moved to the Beckwith barn in late September and has gone on a tear. On Tuesday, the eight year old won for the fifth consecutive time, going coast-to-coast in 1:53.1 with Mark Beckwith in the sulky. Make A Statement A has utilized his terrific early speed throughout his hot streak but hasn’t been a one-trick pony. Always forwardly placed, the razor sharp pacer hasn’t always been on the engine in his victories but he was on Tuesday when he played catch me if you can. They couldn’t and the Beckwith trainee paced away to win by almost three lengths in his fastest time of the season. The Beckwiths teamed up later on the card for a win with Glenferrie Blade A (Mach Three) who never had an anxious moment going wire-to-wire to prevail for the second straight week. That pacing mare, who went over the quarter million dollar mark in career earnings with her win last week, is now two-for-two since joining the Beckwith stable. Her victory on Tuesday came in 1:56.2. Though Beckwith added two wins to her total on Tuesday, Levine also had a member of his stable prevail so the lead in the trainer standings for Levine stands at three with four race-cards remaining in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon with first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

The track’s defending Horse of the Year made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon. The Kyle Spagnola-trained Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) was named the top horse of 2019 at the Spa but has spent much of his ’20 campaign traveling to other tracks to compete. The winner of a local Open back in March and another in June, Cash Me Out had post eight in the $10,000 co-feature on Monday. Phil Fluet piloted the superstar trotter and marched him out early before making it to the top in a first quarter in 27.4. Cruising through a half in 56.2 without facing a challenge, Cash Me Out clicked off three quarters in 1:25.4. Never facing an anxious moment, Cash Me Out drew away to win by three lengths in 1:55.2. Stone In Love (Brian Cross) came from the back of the pack to finish second while Shake A Leg (Jay Randall) earned the show spot. Cash Me Out paid $5.10 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $20 and $606, respectively. It was the second straight score in the local Open Trot for Spagnola and Fluet who teamed up for a victory with Waiting On A Woman in last Monday’s (Nov 2) Open. Cash Me Out is owned by Mike Traylor of Ballston Spa, NY.

The second half of the Monday double feature went the way of Olde Broadside (American Ideal). The Linda Flynn trainee won his first ever Open last month and following a pair of fourth-place finishes was dismissed at odds of 10-1 in Monday’s installment of the $10,000 Open Pace. Alek Chartrand sat back patiently with Olde Broadside as the race’s favorite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) set sizzling fractions on the engine. After the half went in 55 seconds, Olde Broadside made his move heading to three-quarters. The leader tired and the closers began to thrive. Olde Broadside charged hard to draw away by better than two lengths, stopping the timer in 1:52.2. Longshot Blaise MM Hanover (Jimmy Devaux) finished second while Artful Way (Billy Dobson) came on to be third. Olde Broadside paid $22.20 to win and started an exacta and triple that returned $184 and $1,585, respectively, in a race which was an upset-bettors delight. Olde Broadside, who has now accounted for both of Chartrand’s career Open wins, set a lifetime mark on a beautiful autumn afternoon in Saratoga. The Open winner is owned by Francis Morse of Schuylerville, NY.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

For the second consecutive week, Birch Island Betty (Big Jim) swooped the group to win the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Eve Bergeron trainee recorded her first ever victory in the feature for distaffers last week when she tipped three-wide before charging home to score in 1:53.1. On Tuesday, the five year old was assigned the outside post in the $8,500 Open and driver Mitch Cushing settled in last in the seven-horse feature. The early speed was sizzling as the favorite in the race went to the quarter in a demanding 26.2 before reaching the half in 55.2 At that point, the backfield was in motion as last week’s Open runner-up Come Get The Cash (John Macdonald) and Birch Island Betty joined the outer flow and began to thrive after three quarters went in 1:24.2. Come Get The Cash struck the lead in the stretch but Birch Island Betty just kept surging before coming on to prevail in the photo for win in a mile clocked in 1:54.1. Birch Island Betty, who is owned by Dany Grenier of Quebec, Canada, recorded her fifth victory in fifteen seasonal tries, paying $11.80 to win. Come Get The Cash was the runner-up for the second consecutive week in the Open and completed an exacta that returned $58.50. Bontz N (Billy Dobson) rounded out the exact same triple as in last week’s feature. The triple returned a solid $163. Come Get The Cash came up just short of what would have resulted in a grand slam for her connections as trainer Brandy Wine and driver John Macdonald teamed up for three wins on the Tuesday card.

Live racing resumes next Monday (Sept 28) at Saratoga with a first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

In what has been another incredible season in the sulky for him at Saratoga Casino Hotel, driver Billy Dobson had a monster Monday afternoon at the Spa. Well on his way to driving title number nine, Dobson piloted seven winners on the matinee card. The Monica Krist stable had a double as Dobson sat behind a pair of Krist trainees, who are owned by his father Rick, who secured Monday scores. The Open Trot went the way of Gruden (Muscles Yankee). The seven year old high-stepper sat out all of 2019 and is currently in the midst of a strong comeback. After a win last week, it was up into the $8,500 Open Trot for Gruden who got a pocket ride behind the favored Waiting On A Woman (Brett Crawford). That Kyle Spagnola-trained veteran finished first or second in three consecutive installments of the local Open, a race that hasn’t been carded in close to two months at the Spa. While Waiting On A Woman cruised through comfortable fractions on Monday, Gruden rode the coattails of the favorite before taking his shot in the passing lane in the stretch. Gruden got up in the final strides to win it by a half length in 1:57.1. Waiting On A Woman finished second while JNR Express (John Stark Jr) overcame an early break to finish third in the feature. Gruden paid $18.60 to win in the five-horse Open and led an exacta with the favorite second that returned $66. The victory was surprisingly the first for Dobson in the Open Trot this year. The top reinsman has dominated action once again this season but now has just four Open wins to his credit out of the 37 contested on the campaign. Dobson rattled off win after win on a day with a fall feel at the Spa ending up the card with a season-high seven victories!

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with first post time set for 12 Noon.

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Mike Sardella

JNR Express & John Stark Jr. at Saratoga Casino Hotel

Trainer-driver John Stark Jr. went on a bit of a tear at Saratoga Casino Hotel previous to the short hiatus the track took during the week of Labor Day. The veteran horseman had a strong week or two at the Spa before his C And T’s Credit (Credit Winner) won the $50,000 Excelsior Final contested at Tioga Downs last Friday (Sept 11).

On Monday afternoon at the Spa, Stark recorded another training double as his trotter-led stable saw one horse go over the $100,000 mark in career earnings and another break his maiden. JNR Express (Conway Hall) set a lifetime mark on September 2^nd when he and John Stark Jr. went coast-to-coast for their third victory together on the season. On Monday, the four year old stepped up in class off his career-best 1:56.1 victory and again made his way to the winner’s circle. Stark asked the 3-5 betting favorite for early speed and JNR Express captured a pretty easy lead.

He was hounded by rival Mugshots Bro (Jay Randall) throughout almost the entire second half of the mile before drawing clear to win in 1:58.3. Navarone Hanover (Jimmy Devaux) sat the pocket to the winner on Monday and wound up as the runner-up while Mugshots Bro earned the show spot. With the earnings from his victory in the $4,800 conditioned race, JNR Express boosted his lifetime bankroll to over the $100,000 mark for owners James DeArmond and Russell Young of New York.

Earlier in the day, Stark guided his Magnetar (Muscle Hill) to an upset score as the five year old late-blooming trotter broke his maiden in 1:59 at odds of 9-1. Magnetar is owned by the Irony Alliance LLC of Gansevoort, NY.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that kicks off at 12 Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York