Squee Hanover (Crazed) continued his stable’s hot streak on Monday afternoon when the up-and-coming Andy Gardner trainee won the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the second time in the last three weeks. The five year old won the $15,000 Open for the first time in his career two weeks ago when he went coast-to-coast in a lifetime-best matching 1:55.2. On Monday over a sloppy track at the Spa, Squee Hanover worked hard in the early going and raced parked to the first quarter in 27.2. With Billy Dobson at the controls, the Gardner trainee didn’t get much of a breather before reaching the half in 56.2. Bridge Works (Jimmy Devaux), who owns four feature wins this summer, moved three-wide late in the mile and came charging towards the leader but the chase proved to be futile. Squee Hanover stopped the timer in 1:56.1 while scoring by almost two lengths. Bridge Works was the runner-up in the Open for the second consecutive week while Mister Muscle (Brett Beckwith) finished third. Squee Hanover, who is owned by the Exceed Stables of Lamar, PA, continued what has been a strong stretch for conditioner Andy Gardner who scored a pair of victories on Sunday’s card and has rolled his summer successes right over into the fall. The 38 year old conditioner currently sits fourth in the trainer standings this season at the Spa. The Open winner paid $12.00 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $58.50 and $222.50, respectively.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Last season, in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, no horse won the Open Trot in successive tries at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Though the Open didn’t have nearly the amount of installments as in most years, to not have any horse win back-to-back tries showed the “up for grabs” nature of the group of top-flight trotters at the Spa. This season, a dominant force has emerged and on Monday afternoon that force won for the third consecutive week in the trotting feature. Gruden (Muscles Yankee) was assigned post eight in the $14,000 Open and leading driver Billy Dobson took the star trotter back at the start. Aided by the break of two rivals, Gruden advanced to sixth in the early going and with fast fractions being set in the feature things were shaping up very well for the race’s 2-1 second-choice in the wagering. Gruden picked up the cover of Stone In Love (Brian Cross) who was the runner-up to Gruden in last week’s Open. That tandem surged past the weary leader around the final turn but in the stretch Gruden proved to be too much for his rivals. The eight year old trotter stopped the timer in 1:57.3 to record his third consecutive win in the Open Trot becoming the first trotter in almost two years to achieve that feat. Stone In Love continues to be the bridesmaid as she has finished second in five of her last six starts while racing very well for trainer-driver Brian Cross. Longshot Lifetime Credit (John Stark Jr) rounded out the triple. The exacta and triple in the feature paid $41 and $326, respectively. Gruden’s owner, trainer and driver teamed up for a double for the third straight Monday afternoon as Lazzaro completed the double for owner Rick Dobson of Michigan, trainer Monica Krist and reinsman Billy Dobson. Lazzaro has now won four consecutive races and has the look of a future Open trotter in his own right.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

C And T’s Credit (Credit Winner) was one of two John Stark Jr-trained trotting fillies to prevail on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Both C And T’s Credit and stablemate Flotus (RC Royalty) enjoyed success this summer while competing in the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior A’s for three year old fillies. Each lady trotter enjoyed success as two year olds in 2019 and were back at it this summer. C And T’s Credit won the $50,000 Excelsior Final contested at Tioga Downs in September. On Monday, the sophomore filly drew the rail for the second consecutive week as she looked to repeat with Stark in the sulky. Coming off a first-over victory that came in 1:57.1, C And T’s Credit wound up getting a pocket ride on Monday and slid out heading towards three quarters. The filly shifted gears when asked and powered away from her rivals to complete her back-to-back jacks, stopping the timer in 1:57.4 in the $5,300 conditioned race for trotters. One of the two ladies among the seven competitors in her race, C And T’s Credit won for the ninth time in 22 career starts as she defeated runner-up Navarone Hanover (Chris Long) by two lengths. J S Peyton (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot. C And T’s Credit is owned by Peter Barbato of Demarest, NJ and Sam Bova Racing, LLC of Irving, NY.

Flotus completed the Monday double for Stark by dominating her group of trotters by six and a half lengths. Flotus had a bit of down ’20 season in comparison to her ’19 campaign but still now has four victories in a dozen starts as a three year old. On Monday, Flotus moved out to an easy lead and wound up naming her margin as she left no doubt who was best in her $4,700 race for high-steppers. Flotus is co-owned by Stark, Smith and Giannuzzi.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a Noon first post.