Trainer Brett Derue has been atop the trainer standings at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the majority of the 2023 season. On Saturday night, the meet’s leading conditioner enjoyed a big night in which he saw a pair of his trainees record big wins. Derue’s Soul Assassin (Malicious) won his first Open Pace on August 19^th when he set a new lifetime mark with a 1:51.4 victory. This week, driver Mitch Cushing once again sat behind Soul Assassin as he moved first-over in a race that saw historic fractions in the early going. The race’s favorite Pickup Man Hanover (Luke Hanners) clicked off a first quarter of 25.4, the fastest first panel in the history of Saratoga Harness. The leader continued to roll past a half in 54 seconds before Soul Assassin made his move on the leader. Soul Assassin toughed it out overland before stopping the timer in 1:52.2 for his eighth win of the season. Last week’s Open winner Century Endeavor (Brett Beckwith) closed to be second to the four year old Derue trainee on Saturday while Seventh Secret (Jimmy Devaux) hit the board for the second consecutive week in the $16,050 feature when he earned the show spot on Saturday. Soul Assassin, a 3-1 shot in the morning line, was dismissed at odds of 11-1 and paid $25.40 to win. The exacta and triple in the Open returned $106 and $341.50, respectively. The win in the Open was one of two on the evening for Derue whose Addison Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere) set a lifetime mark recording a 1:52.3 score with reinsman Billy Dobson in the bike.

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

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

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

Talking Tom (Artspeak) won the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the first time in September of last year. The Perry Simser trainee has returned to the Open this summer and enjoyed some success. Highlighted by a second-place finish while competing against the track’s top pacers, Talking Tom hit the board a handful of times this summer before heading into Saturday evening’s try in the $18,200 featured race.

Driver Chris Long asked Talking Tom for early speed and got him to the front in a 27.1 first quarter. The six year old got a bit of a breather but reached the half in an honest 56.4 before being confronted by last week’s Open runner-up Soul Assassin (Mitch Cushing) who came first-over on the Simser trainee. Those two squared off for close to a half mile before Talking Tom put that rival away and held strong to score in 1:53.1. The second Open win in the career of the Perry Simser trainee came while dismissed at odds of 5-1. Soul Assassin came up second-best for the second consecutive week while Black Hawk Joe A (Matt Athearn) earned the show spot.

Talking Tom, who is co-owned by his trainer Perry Simser along with Dennis Nye, paid $12.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $42.80 and $215.50, respectively. The win time of 1:53.1 set a new seasonal mark for Talking Tom and was just a tick off his lifetime best win time of 1:53.

Live racing continues on Sunday evening at Saratoga with a thirteen race program set to begin at 6:45pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Hall of Famer Brian Sears came to town and dominated the action in the New York Sire Stakes on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The superstar driver piloted the winners of both $74,000+ Sire Stakes races for two year old colt and gelding trotters guiding freshmen Situationship and Wild Ticket to stakes scores. Situationship won for the first time in his three career starts by posting a dazzling 1:56.2 mile, one of the fastest in track history for a two year old trotter.

Brian Sears guided Situationship to his maiden win for trainer Ake Svanstedt and owners Knutsson Trotting Inc, Tomas Andersson and Little E LLC in his $75,900 division of the New York Sire Stakes. The son of Chapter Seven out of the Cantab Hall mare Meegan Hall, Situationship was the 8-5 second-choice in the wagering in his maiden victory on Friday.

Sears wasted little time winning his second race on the evening as he completed the sweep of the early double guiding Wild Ticket to his second consecutive New York Sire Stakes score. Wild Ticket was the 1-5 favorite in his $74,500 stakes event as he went wire-to-wire with Sears sitting behind. Marcus Melander trains the freshman for the ownership team of Amg Stb Inc, Kjellgren, Mantrop LLC and Heights Stb.

Wild Ticket powered away from his rivals late in the mile to prevail by a resounding eight and three-quarters lengths. Sears won his third race of the evening when he piloted Inflation (Chapter Seven-Fraulein Blucher-Cantab Hall) to victory in a $20,000 Excelsior race for trainer Lucas Wallin.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyenne Mandy

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Uncle Jord A (Rock N Roll Heaven) has been a solid force in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel all year long. On Saturday evening, the Alicia Gray-trained pacer drew post five in the seven horse feature. Driver Shawn Gray asked the veteran for early speed and landed briefly on the lead before yielding to rival St Lads Sterling (Jay Randall) approaching the opening quarter.

Uncle Jord A rode the coattails of the leader through a first half of 55.4 and that tandem was joined by Talking Tom (Chris Long) in the stretch for a three-horse battle to the wire. Uncle Jord A began to impose his will midway through the lane as he overpowered St Lads Sterling late in the game before drawing off to win decisively in 1:52.2. Talking Tom closed sharply to finish second while St Lads Sterling had to settle for third in the $17,000 feature. Uncle Jord A paid $13.80 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that came back $72.50 and $213.50, respectively.

The victory in the Open was the third on the season for the eight year old Uncle Jord A who is owned by Doug Overhiser of New Smyrna Beach, FL. A picture of consistency this season, he has now hit the board in nine of his twelve starts in the Saratoga Open in 2023.

Live racing continues at Saratoga on Sunday evening with a thirteen race card set to kick off at 6:45pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Invader Milieu Hanover (Betting Line) made her Saratoga Casino Hotel debut a winning one in Monday’s feature. Nick Devita trains the five year old who came into her try in the $17,000 Fillies and Mares Open a winner of back-to-back races but after being off close to a month. Milieu Hanover came from the back of a condensed pack of six distaffers on Monday and driver Brett Beckwith tipped her to the far outside past the three-quarter pole. The out-of-towner came charging home in the stretch and drew away to prevail by two and a quarter lengths in a final time of 1:54. The third consecutive win for Milieu Hanover was her fifth on the season in ten starts. The Open winner paid $9.00 to win as she bested the favored Our Lady Lara A (Jimmy Devaux), who brought a six-race undefeated local streak into the Monday feature but had to settle for second-best. Always Watching (Jordan Derue) earned the show spot. The exacta and triple in the ladies’ Open came back $20.40 and $84.50, respectively. Milieu Hanover is owned in partnership by Hamm, Giaccio and Devita Racing Stable, Inc.

Live racing will resume on Saturday evening at Saratoga and will feature a carryover of $3,917 in the early Pick Five. The Pick Five begins in Saturday’s first race which is set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York