Shecouldbegood N (Well Said) lengthened her win streak to five on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trainer Luke Hanners claimed the ten year old mare in late May and enjoyed immediate success with the veteran distaffer. Shecouldbegood N rattled off four consecutive victories, including one that came in a lifetime best 1:52.1, before stepping up to make her first career start in the Fillies and Mares Open on Monday. Shawn Gray catch-drove for Hanners who continues to recover from injuries sustained in an on-track accident. Gray took Shecouldbegood N back at the start to not get involved in what wound up being a pretty significant speed duel in the early going. Her co-favorite, Our Lady Lara A (Jimmy Devaux), powered into the lead in a fast first quarter of 26.4 before backing it down to 57.3 in the first half. Shecouldbegood N began to progress mildly from off the pace and just kept grinding away leading up to a stretch drive that would result in a blanket finish. When the dust settled, Shecouldbegood N emerged with her first Open score in a race that saw all seven participants finish within a length and a quarter of each other. Co-favored at odds of 9-5, Shecouldbegood N paid $5.70 to win. Always Watching (Jordan Derue) closed to finish second while Our Lady Lara A had to settle for third in the $17,000 Open for the ladies. Shecouldbegood N’s victory, which came in 1:54.4, was her seventh of the season. The Open winner is owned by Michael Milazzo of Goshen, NY who teamed up once again with Gray and Hanners later in the card for a victory with claiming pacing mare HS Shauna as she completed a double for her connections.

The live racing calendar will feature Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening for the next two months with first post time each evening set for 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

Trainer Andy Sardella has seen a stable star emerge for him this season as Northern Luxury (Northern Luck) has gone on a springtime tear at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Northern Luxury rattled off five consecutive victories spanning the month of May and heading into June. The five year old mare graduated out of the class of her dominance and wound up getting parked the mile the following week.

On Monday, Northern Luxury drew post three for her try in the $12,500 feature for fillies and mares. Regular reinsman Phil Fluet sat behind the Sardella-trained distaffer and got a cover trip with her on Monday. The 2-1 second-choice in the wagering tracked down the favorite who was on the front end en route to her ninth victory in fifteen seasonal starts.

Longshot So Diva (Chris Long) closed up the rail to finish second while the favored American Tour N (Wally Hennessey) held on to finish third. Northern Luxury paid $6.90 to win as she stopped the timer in 1:54.3 for owner Billy Grass of Greenfield, MA. Sardella completed a training double on Monday when his HS Shauna (Up Front Charlie) went coast-to-coast with Chris Long in the sulky.

HS Shauna’s win, her fifth of the season, came in 1:55.4 in a $9,000 event for claiming pacing mares. HS Shauna is owned by Mike and Bill Pozefsky of New York.

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

Sheikh Yabooty N (Big Jim) made her debut in the Fillies and Mares Open on Monday Saratoga Casino Hotel. The nine year old distaffer drew post position two for her try in the $17,000 ladies’ feature while coming off an impressive off-the-pace score in 1:53.3 in her last start. On Monday, she went off at odds of 5-1 and exhibited early speed to wind up sitting the pocket to the race’s odds-on favorite Probert (Brett Beckwith).

The fractions in the feature seemed to work to the favor of Probert who reached the half in a reasonable 57.1 and remained unopposed before Sheikh Yabooty N popped the pocket around the final turn. The Bob Leslie-trained nine year old surged up and past the favorite before drawing away to win for the third time six starts since coming to the Spa in May. Alittlesidehustl N (Jay Randall) worked her way up on the outside and, as she usually is, was a factor at the finish in the Open closing to be the runner-up on Monday.

American Tour N (Wally Hennessey), who, like the winner, was competing in the Open for the first time in her career, earned the show spot in a mile clocked in 1:54.1. Sheikh Yabooty N paid $12 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $52.50 and $155.50, respectively.

The winner, who is owned by Robert Devine of Freehold, NJ, gave her trainer and driver a double on the card as the Bob Leslie-trained Dancethebigdance N set a lifetime mark prevailing in 1:55.2 with reinsman Mitch Cushing at the controls.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening when the New York Sire Stakes for three year old pacing colts and geldings are featured on a fifteen race card. First post time is set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Trainer Brett Derue has been sitting in the top three in the trainer standings all year long at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Monday, the veteran conditioner added three wins to his bulky tally to put him right up near the top. Derue’s Novella Seelster (Sportswriter) gave her trainer his first win on the matinee card when she parlayed her pocket ride to victory with Wally Hennessey at the controls.

Brett Derue quickly went back-to-back as Mini Rose (American Ideal) powered home in the stretch to score in her first start since moving to the Derue stable. Mini Rose drew the rail in an $11,000 conditional event and wound up tipping to the outside before storming in the stretch to score in 1:55.2 with Mitch Cushing piloting. Derue’s hat trick was completed in the afternoon’s finale when his American Tour N (American Ideal) had little difficulty prevailing in an $11,250 race for fillies and mares. American Tour N popped the pocket past the half and cruised to her fifth victory of the season when she stopped the timer in 1:54.2. The nine year old distaffer was guided to the win by Wally Hennessey who piloted four winners on the Monday card.

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

Trainer Brett Derue has been sitting in the top three in the trainer standings all year long at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Monday, the veteran conditioner added three wins to his bulky tally to put him right up near the top. Derue’s Novella Seelster (Sportswriter) gave her trainer his first win on the matinee card when she parlayed her pocket ride to victory with Wally Hennessey at the controls.

Brett Derue quickly went back-to-back as Mini Rose (American Ideal) powered home in the stretch to score in her first start since moving to the Derue stable. Mini Rose drew the rail in an $11,000 conditional event and wound up tipping to the outside before storming in the stretch to score in 1:55.2 with Mitch Cushing piloting.

Derue’s hat trick was completed in the afternoon’s finale when his American Tour N (American Ideal) had little difficulty prevailing in an $11,250 race for fillies and mares. American Tour N popped the pocket past the half and cruised to her fifth victory of the season when she stopped the timer in 1:54.2. The nine year old distaffer was guided to the win by Wally Hennessey who piloted four winners on the Monday card.

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

Our Lady Lara A (Betterthancheddar) extended her local win streak to five at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon. The Amanda Kelley trainee remains undefeated at the Spa after stepping up in the Fillies and Mares Open for the first time and taking the field coast-to-coast. Our Lady Lara A powered out to the early lead in the Monday feature while being guided by the meet’s leading driver Jimmy Devaux. Devaux got a big-time breather for the Aussie invader who after going a first quarter in 27.3 reached the half in 57.4.

From there, it was over. Our Lady Lara A reported home a decisive winner in her first try in the Open for distaffers, stopping the timer in a career-best 1:53.4 to move her local record to five-for-five. Racey Rach N (Mitch Cushing) sat the pocket and finished second while Fond Memories A (Billy Dobson) endured a difficult first-over journey before earning the show spot. Our Lady Lara A was the 2-5 betting favorite in the $17,000 Open and led an exacta and triple in the feature that paid $14.20 and $50, respectively. The Open winner is owned in partnership by the S&K Misfit Racing Stable and VIP Internet Stable.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a 15 race program highlighted by New York Sire Stakes action for three year old pacing fillies. First post time is set for 5pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Always Watching (He’s Watching) established herself as a top-flight mare last season at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Jordan Derue owns, trains and drives the distaffer who enjoyed a six-figure campaign in 2022 by way of ten wins, many of which came in the Fillies and Mares Open. The ’23 season didn’t start out as strong for the now-five year old although the mare did hit the board in the Open on a few occasions before dropping down in class to secure her first win of the season on April 18^th. Following that score, Always Watching moved back into Open company and rattled off her second consecutive victory when she wired the featured field of ladies. Ever since, Always Watching has hit the board in each of her starts leading up into Monday’s try in the $17,000 Fillies and Mares Open.

Derue’s top distaffer was the public’s 8-5 betting favorite on the Memorial Day matinee and wasted little time moving out to the front-end. Cruising unopposed through a fast first half in 55.4, Always Watching wound up powering away from her rivals turning for home en route to her third win of the year and second in the Open. The final time on a beautiful afternoon in the Spa City was 1:53.2 for a much-the-best Always Watching. Fond Memories A (Billy Dobson), last week’s Open winner, was the runner-up on Monday while Alittlesidehustl N (Jay Randall) came on to finish third. Always Watching paid $5.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $35.20 and $78.50, respectively.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

It was a monster Monday at Saratoga Casino Hotel for trainer Dave Dewhurst who swept the two Series Finals contested on the matinee card en route to five total winners on the day. Primo Uomo was the public’s overwhelming betting favorite in Monday’s $39,400 Dr. Richard Frank Memorial Pace Final after secure victories in all three legs that led up to the Final. Primo Uomo wasted little time making the front in the Doc Frank Memorial and had little difficulty going coast-to-coast in a career-best 1:54.1 to complete his series sweep.

The victory was the tenth of the year already in just twelve seasonal tries for the three year old son of Heston Blue Chip. Longshot Aces Or Bettor (Mitch Cushing) won a place photo in the series’ conclusion while Astaires Arsenal (Billy Dobson), a two-leg winner in the series, earned the show spot. Primo Uomo is owned by Chris and Dale Lawton of New York.

Dewhurst didn’t have much time to celebrate his big win in the Doc Frank Memorial as Primo Uomo’s stablemate City Of Hope (Mat’s Hall) took to the track as the favorite in the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series Final in the race that followed the pacing Final. City Of Hope wound up as the 3-5 favorite in the wagering after winning consecutive times after making a leg-one break. Dewhurst’s regular reinsman Jimmy Devaux was at the controls and was content to get a pocket ride with City of Hope who pursued major danger Bourbon On Ice (John Stark Jr) every step of the way.

City Of Hope powered out of the two-hole on Monday to secure the biggest win of his young career when he stopped the timer in 1:58.3 to complete a five-win day for Dewhurs who co-owns City Of Hope with Philip Hale of New Hartford, NY. Devaux sat behind all five members of the Monday five-bagger for the veteran conditioner and added another pair of victories to his tally for the day, piloting seven winners in total on the matinee program.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon and features the $38,800 Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series Final for fillies and mares. First post time for the matinee card is set for noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

It was a big afternoon for trainer Dave Dewhurst on Monday at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The veteran conditioner recorded a training hat trick including a pair of victories in spring series races. Following a day in which he scored wins in the Open Trot and the Winners Over for trotters, Dewhurst was led by Primo Uomo (Heston Blue Chip) who completed a sweep of the three legs of the Dr. Richard Frank Memorial Pacing Series. Primo Uomo was used hard to get to the lead in his $17,500 division of the series but after getting to the top in a first quarter of 27.1 held firm throughout en route to a 1:54.4 romp. The sophomore pacer’s win was his ninth in eleven seasonal starts as he will head into next week’s series final as the only horse to prevail in all three legs.

Dewhurst co-owns as well as trains City Of Hope (Met’s Hall) who went back-to-back in the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series behind a career-best 1:58.1 Monday score. After going coast-to-coast from post eight while dismissed at odds of 12-1 last week, City Of Hope again went the distance on the lead on Monday but this time as the public’s 4-5 betting favorite. City Of Hope is co-owned by Dewhurst and Philip Hale. That pair also saw its Defiant Lady set a new lifetime mark on Monday when she prevailed in 2:00 in a $9,500 conditional race for trotters. With the huge few days at the Spa, Dewhurst has surged into the top three in the local trainer standings. All three of Dewhurst’s Monday winners were piloted by the meet’s leading driver Jimmy Devaux.

Live racing continues on Tuesday at Saratoga with action beginning at noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York