Big Box Hanover (Uncle Peter) was one of the winningest horses in the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2022. The Larry Stalbaum-owned and trained high-stepper, who recorded another six-figure campaign last year, drew post eight for his most recent try against the track’s top trotters on Sunday’s matinee at the Spa. Big Box Hanover hit the board in his first three local tries this year including one victory in the Open but wound up as the longest shot on the board in the $17,000 dismissed at odds of 27-1 after making a break last week. Young reinsman Matt Athearn got away last with Big Box Hanover who remained the race’s back-marker until the 5/8 pole when the field bunched up after the first half went in a fast 56.2. The race was up for grabs heading to three quarters as the classy Stalbaum trainee continued to progress little by little. Big Box Hanover was still fifth at the top of the stretch but his tenacious pursuit didn’t end there and didn’t stop until he hit the wire first in 1:56.4 to spring the big upset. Dewey Arnold (Jimmy Devaux) dealt with traffic trouble throughout the mile and ended up as the runner-up to Big Box Hanover who paid $57.00 to win in the Open shocker. Dewey Arnold completed a $249.50 exacta while Yes (Brett Beckwith) finished third in his local debut to complete a $3,291 triple. The six year old Big Box Hanover moved over the half million dollar mark in lifetime earnings a few weeks ago and on Sunday recorded his 37^th career win in 107 starts.

Live racing continues on Monday afternoon at Saratoga and will feature a carryover of $4,648 in the early Pick Five which begins in race one on the matinee card. First post time is noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Young pacer Primo Uomo (Heston Blue Chip) has begun his season on a tear at Saratoga Casino Hotel on a day in which his connections scored a double. The three year old who had a win and a second in his two starts as a freshman in 2022 rolled to his fourth consecutive victory on Monday afternoon at the Spa. Primo Uomo prevailed in his final start of ’22 and is now three-for-three to begin his sophomore campaign as the Dave Dewhurst trainee impressed once again this week scoring a career-best 1:55.1 win in a $8,700 race for young colts and geldings. The public’s odds-on favorite had the task of battling young pacer Boozer (Brett Beckwith) who came to town two-for-two after recording decisive victories at Monticello. Returning to the stable of last year’s leading trainer Melissa Beckwith, Boozer wound up sitting the pocket to Primo Uomo who was powerful in the stretch before registering a lifetime best win. Jimmy Devaux piloted Primo Uomo to victory for Dewhurst who has gotten his season off to a strong start and owners Chris and Dale Lawton. Devaux and Dewhurst teamed up later in the card for another youngster who recorded his third consecutive victory on Monday. City Of Hope (Met’s Hall) cruised out of the pocket to prevail and, like stablemate Primo Uomo, move his 2023 record to three-for-three.

Racing scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled due to the impeding winter storm. Live racing continues on Saturday evening with a post time of 5 p.m.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

New Zealand invader Wahs Fire Bug N (Mach Three) has finished first or second in each of her starts since coming to the U.S. late last year. Amanda Kelley trains the eight year old mare who is establishing herself as one of the top mares at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Tuesday, the talented distaffer recorded her first Open win. She left from post seven and made a pretty easy lead in the $18,200 Fillies and Mares Open but set quick fractions of 27.1 and 56.2 in lap one. The Kelley trainee expanded her lead to an insurmountable one heading towards the three quarter pole before cruising away to score in 1:55 by almost four lengths. Alittlesidehustl N (Jay Randall) closed well to be second in her seasonal debut while last week’s Open runner-up Demeter N (Matt Athearn) earned the show spot on Tuesday. Wahs Fire Bug N, the 1-2 public choice, led an exacta and triple that paid $45.60 and $405, respectively. The win in the feature was one of two on the day for Kelley who teamed up with Devaux for a victory with Nevada Rock who scored in her Spa debut. Devaux piloted five winners on the card in total. Wahs Fire Bug N is owned by the S&K Misfit Racing Stable of Greenfield Center, NY.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Ima Happy Fella GB (Rogue Hall) was ultra-impressive in winning his local debut on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The invader came in as a winner of four races in six tries since joining the Rob Harmon stable late last year. The UK-bred pacer was the public’s odds-on favorite in Monday’s $11,000 feature for pacers and looked every bit the part. Driver Jay Randall moved him out to the early lead and never looked back as the impressive invader scored a decisive victory in 1:54.3 at odds of 1-5.

A winner of nine of sixteen starts in 2022 between his U.S. races and those overseas, Ima Happy Fella GB has now rattled off three victories in his first four starts in ’23. The six year old gelding is owned by Spriggs, Muggleston and the Harmon Racing Stable. The strong group of rivals that were defeated on Monday include Third Edition (Leon Bailey) who was the runner-up, and Aerosmith Hanover (Shawn Gray) who finished third after coming into the race two-for-two on the year.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a matinee beginning at noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Abruzzo (Walner) won the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the first time on Sunday afternoon to complete a double for his connections. The four year old trotter, who made his Spa debut last fall when he joined the stable of trainer Kevin McDermott, has been a force in his limited local starts. On Sunday, he wound up drawing post position two for his second start in the Open and first this season. Young reinsman Brett Beckwith wasted no time moving Abruzzo out to the early lead in the $17,000 feature, a lead he would never relinquish. Abruzzo cruised untested through a first half of 58 seconds and appeared comfortable throughout the mile before stopping the timer in 1:55.4 to record the Open score. Pocket-sitter Home’n Dry (Billy Dobson) finished second while Big Box Hanover (Matt Athearn) lengthened his “on the board” streak to five when he earned the show spot in Sunday’s feature. Abruzzo was the 9-5 betting favorite in his first Open score and led an exacta and triple that paid $68 and $212.50, respectively. The other star trotter out of McDermott’s stable also prevailed on Sunday as Reign Of Honor took advantage of dropping out of the Open by scoring in the $14,500 Winners Over for trotters. The victory was the first of the season for the 2022 Trotter of the Year nominee who like stablemate Abruzzo is owned by Randy Zane of Quebec, Canada. Brett Beckwith piloted both McDermott trainees to their Sunday scores.

Live racing continues on Monday afternoon at Saratoga with a President’s Day matinee that begins at noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Rocknroll Runa A (Rock N Roll Heaven) came up just short in his debut in the local Open Pace on opening weekend at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Fast forward two weeks to Saturday night and the Larry Stalbaum trainee drew the rail for his second try in the $17,000 feature. Young reinsman Matt Athearn picked up the catch-drive behind Rocknroll Runa A who got away second behind Take A Gamble (Leon Bailey). That invader was the winner of the lone Open Pace contested on the young season at the Spa heading into Saturday’s tilt. This week, Take A Gamble’s first half fractions of 26.3 and 55.3 took their toll late and after going toe-to-toe with the favored Moonshine Kisses (Jay Randall), the leader faded. Rocknroll Runa A shook loose around the final turn and came charging hard on the outside in the stretch before coming on to win in 1:52, the fastest time for any horse in the ’23 campaign at the Spa. The longest shot on the board Belmont Major N (Jimmy Devaux) closed up the inside to finish second while Moonshine Kisses had to settle for third in his first try in the local Open this season. Rocknroll Runa A paid $13.60 to win in the mild upset and led big-priced exotics. The exacta returned $242.50 while the triple came back $444. Rocknroll Runa A is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum whose barn had a pair of victories on the Saturday card. His former Spa Pacer of the Year Crockets Cullen N went coast-to-coast on Saturday with young pilot Brett Beckwith in the sulky.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that starts at noon. There is a Pick Five carryover of $2,609 in the matinee’s early Pick Five and a carryover of $2,017 in the late Pick Five.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

The Stunning Nun N (Bettor’s Delight) emerged victorious in what was an extremely competitive stretch-drive in Tuesday’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Kevin Reynolds Jr. trains the eight year old mare who drew post three in what wound up being a six-horse Fillies and Mares Open following a scratch. The Stunning Nun N got a cover trip from driver Luke Hanners as they followed up the first-over race’s favorite.

The field bunched up turning for home and a scramble in the stretch then ensued. The Stunning Nun N took over the lead in the final strides and held off a late charge from rival Demeter N (Matt Athearn) who motored home before coming up just a nose shy of the victory. Rocknroll Shelli (Leon Bailey) finished third in the blanket finish that saw all six distaffers in with a chance late in the mile. The Stunning Nun N moved over the $200,000 mark in career earnings from what was her victory in Tuesday’s $17,000 Open. She paid $12.40 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $61.50 and $166, respectively. The winner is owned in partnership by Deters, Manning, Warner and Jensen.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Dewey Arnold (Deweycheatumnhowe) has been a winning machine over the years but the trotting star was a beaten favorite in each of his first three starts of 2023 heading into his Monday try in the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel. On Monday, the Dave Dewhurst-trained star high-stepper was again the betting public’s top choice as he drew post position five in the six-horse feature. Jimmy Devaux marched Dewey Arnold out to the early lead, a lead the classy five year old would never relinquish. Dewey went coast-to-coast in 1:56.4 in the $17,000 Open besting last week’s feature winner Big Box Hanover decisively in what was a $13 exacta. Longshot Grinder (Andover Hall), the runner-up in the first Open Trot of the season, finished third on Monday to complete a $67.50 triple. Dewey Arnold is now just a few thousand shy of the $400,000 mark in career earnings after what was his 26th lifetime victory in just 61 starts. Dewey Arnold is co-owned by his trainer Dave Dewhurst and Philip Hale of New York.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post time of noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Optical Illusion N (He’s Watching) instantly became a force after coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel last year. Lisa Zabielski trains and co-owns the New Zealand import who had a breakthrough season in 2022 scoring twelve wins en route to earnings of more than $114,000. For his efforts, Optical Illusion N was named a nominee for Pacer of the Year at the Spa in his local rookie season. The ’23 campaign kicked off last Saturday night (Feb 4) for Optical Illusion N who was dismissed at odds of 29-1 despite drawing post two for his try in the Open Pace. Shaking loose late in the mile, the Zabielski trainee came up just shy of upsetting having to settle for second-best in a mile clocked in 1:54.2.

This week, with no Open Pace on the docket, the $14,500 Winners Over was the evening’s feature and Optical Illusion N drew the outside post for his second start of the season. His regular driver Chris Long asked for a bit of early speed from the six year old pacer who found a spot mid-pack in the early going.
The rising star came motoring home in the stretch while surging past his rivals to win the Saturday feature in 1:53.3. With the would-be favorite taken out of the betting due to suffering broken equipment before the start, he wound up as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering and paid $6.50 to win. The favored Belmont Major N (Jimmy Devaux) finished second while Stop Staring (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot. Optical Illusion N is owned by Lisa and Kim Zabielski.

Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon with a matinee beginning at noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Newsy N (Bettor’s Delight) finished second in her lone start in the local Fillies and Mares Open last year at Saratoga Casino Hotel. On Monday afternoon, the six year old New Zealand import drew post three and was installed as the morning line favorite for her try in the $17,000 feature for distaffers. Ron Cushing powered the talented mare out to the front end as she worked hard in lap one covering the first half in 57.1 before being met with the challenge of the race’s 3-5 betting favorite Wahs Fire Bug N (Jimmy Devaux) who came powering up alongside the leader past the half.

Those two squared off, trading strides for close to a half mile before Newsy N proved best in a mile clocked in 1:54.3. Wahs Fire Bug N was a game second while Fond Memories A (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot. Newsy N paid $7.80 to win as the second choice in the wagering leading an exacta with the favorite second that returned $20.60. The triple came back $73. Newsy N is co-owned by Ron Cushing and Kevin Sywyk and
trained by Heidi Gibbs.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5pm. There will be a carryover in the early Pick Five of $2,311. Each race card now features two Pick Fives, one made up of the first five races on the card and the other comprising the final five races on the program.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York