Trainer Lisa Zabielski enjoyed a strong start to the Bunny Lake Pacing Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel on a Monday matinee in which she scored a training double. The card was highlighted by the first leg of the annual Bunny Lake Pace, a series for fillies and mares that started in 2021. The third installment of it got underway with three divisions on Monday. Zabielski’s Bri Express N (A Rocknroll Dance) had little difficultly recording her third consecutive victory going coast-to-coast with leading driver Jimmy Devaux in the bike. Bri Express N, her race’s 1-5 betting favorite in her $12,500 division of the Bunny Lake Pace, made it look easy stopping the timer in 1:55.1.

Zabielski’s Dancethebigdance N came into leg one of the series as perhaps the one to beat. The New Zealand invader is in the midst of a strong season at Saratoga and headed into the kickoff of the Bunny Lake Pace off a career-best 1:53.2 score. On Monday as the odds-on favorite in her division, Dancethebigdance N had to settle for second as longshot Monkeysea Monkeydo tracked her down in the stretch to win a photo in 1:55.2. Larry Stalbaum owns, trains and drives Monkeysea Monkeydo who was a beaten favorite in her first two local tries heading into Monday when she parlayed her pocket ride to the upset score while dismissed at odds of 30-1. Zabielski’s training double was completed later in the day when claiming pacer Meadowbrook Jenny went wire-to-wire with Devaux in the sulky, scoring in 1:54.4 to record her ninth win of the ’23 campaign.

The final division of leg one of the Bunny Lake Pace went the way of HP Mary Sunshine (Sunshine Beach), who was the fastest winner of the three divisions of the series, as she closed up the passing lane to stop the timer in 1:54.4. Brett Beckwith catch-drove HP Mary Sunshine for trainer Francis Raia II and sat the rail with the four year old who prevailed in a lifetime best 1:54.1 in the start leading up to Monday’s series debut. HP Mary Sunshine paid $11.60 in the mild leg one upset.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Always Watching (He’s Watching) added another win to her growing tally on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Jordan Derue owns, trains and drives the talented distaffer who has been on a fantastic streak over the last few months. On Monday, Always Watching recorded her fifth victory of the year in Fillies and Mares Open as she set a new seasonal mark by wiring the field in 1:52.4. Derue was aggressive in the early going with the 11-1 longshot who cruised through a first half in 55.4 before being confronted by odds-on favorite Racine Bell (Jimmy Devaux) who took to the first-over path in pursuit of Always Watching. It was the Derue trainee, though, who dug in and fended off late bids by both Racine Bell and pocket-sitter Alittlesidehustl N (Brett Beckwith) en route to becoming the winningest mare in the Fillies and Mares Open this season at the Spa. Always Watching paid $24.80 in the upset. Alittlesidehustl N finished second to complete a $273 exacta while Racine Bell completed a $777 triple.

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

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

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

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

Trump De Vie (Devious Man) continued his magical run at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon. The Jackie Cantine-trained trotter has been simply sensational in 2023 and on Monday won for the seventh consecutive time when he parlayed a pocket trip to victory in leg two of the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial trotting series. Trump De Vie began his season in March by rattling off back-to-back scores after getting pocket rides but ever since, the three year old has been doing it in wire-to-wire fashion for Saratoga Hall of Fame driver Frank Coppola Jr. After paying $9.90 to win in his semi-upset in leg one, Trump De Vie was the betting public’s 3-5 favorite on Monday when he cruised past his race’s leader to prevail in 2:00.3 en route to moving his ’23 record to seven-for-seven. Coppola also piloted the Cantine-trained Sweet El Diablo to a Monday score as that young pacer rattled off his third straight victory for his red hot connections when he prevailed in a $9,500 pacing event on the matinee card.

The winner of the other $15,000 division of leg two of the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trot was City Of Hope (Mel’s Hall) who overcame post eight to secure the upset at odds of 12-1 with Jimmy Devaux piloting for trainer Dave Dewhurst.  City Of Hope’s score in the afternoon’s finale was the second on the day for his connections as Primo Uomo went wire-to-wire in his division of the Dr. Richard Frank Memorial pacing series on Monday. City Of Hope is owned in partnership by Dewhurst and Philip Hale.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post set for noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Bourbon On Ice- daughter of Chapter Seven- was a decisive winner once again on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. John Stark Jr trains and drives the filly who competed in the New York Sire Stakes last year and has begun her sophomore season in style. After breaking her maiden last week (April 10), Bourbon On Ice stepped up in company on Monday but had no trouble repeating. The three year old moved out to the early lead in her $9,500 division of a non-winners of two race lifetime trot and never had an anxious moment on the front-end.

Bourbon On Ice was a resounding winner trotting in 1:58.4 over a track labeled ‘sloppy’ in a mile highlighted by a final half in 58.2. The race’s 1-9 betting favorite completed a training double for Stark whose Titan Express (E L Titan) broke his maiden on Monday behind a front-running score that came in 2:02.1. Saratoga Hall of Famer John Stark Jr. piloted three winners on the card as he guided young trotter Seven Bridges Road (Chapter Seven) to her maiden win for trainer Maureen Salino.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that starts at noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Mr Cool Seaeyre N (The Pres) has had a great year under the guidance of trainer Brett Derue at Saratoga Casino Hotel. On Monday afternoon, the eleven year old scored the biggest win maybe of his career when he went coast-to-coast in the $31,500 Step Up To The Plate Claiming Series Final for trotters. Brett Beckwith piloted Mr Cool Seaeyre N to each of his three victories in 2023 heading into Monday including a leg two score which came in 1:57. On Monday, the young reinsman powered the New Zealand-bred high-stepper out to the early lead and never looked back. Shadowed every step of the way by the race’s favorite Life Well Lived (Phil Fluet), Mr Cool Seaeyre N cruised unopposed through a first half in 58 seconds and encountered just a brief bid from the favorite in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:58 for the series win. Life Well Lived, the 6-5 public choice in the wagering, came up second best while Esa (Luke Hanners) concluded his successful series with a third-place finish in the Final. Mr Cool Seaeyre N, who paid $5.90 to win, is owned by Picarazzi, Derue and Bullard of NY. The exacta paid $13.20 in the matinee’s feature while the triple returned $51.50.

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

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

On Monday, Mr Cool Seaeyre N (The Pres) did what no other trotter has been able to do in the Step Up To The Plate Claiming Series when he defeated Esa. Brett Derue trains Mr Cool Seaeyre N who followed up a leg one third-place finish with a runner-up try in leg two. Making the second-place finish more impressive is that he made a costly early break in that start before racing parked to finish second. In Monday’s $25,000 third leg, Mr Cool Seaeyre N moved out to the early lead stuffing the odds-on favorite Esa (Luke Hanners) into the pocket. The eleven year old veteran held firm throughout and withstood a late bid from the favorite before clocking a 1:57 victory to seemingly punch his ticket to next week’s Series Final. Mr Cool Seaeyre N paid $12.20 to win in the mild upset. Esa, who scored victories in the first two legs of the Series, came up second best on Monday while Conquest As (Chris Long) earned the show spot.

Brett Beckwith piloted Mr Cool Seaeyre N to his Monday score and also sat behind leg three’s other victor. Life Well Lived (Muscle Mass) moved his record to two-for-two since the claim by trainer Kevin McDermott when he shook free late to edge out rival JNR Express in the final stride to go back-to-back, stopping the timer in 1:57. JNR Express (Jay Randall) was the runner-up in all three legs of the Series heading into next week’s Final while Fair Glider (Matt Athearn) finished third. Both Life Well Lived and JNR Express were claimed out of leg three. Brett Beckwith piloted four winners on the card including the sweep of the $25,000 co-feature Step Up To The Plate Series’ third leg.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon and features the second leg of the fillies and mares version of the Step Up To The Plate Claiming Series. First post time is set for noon.

Photo: Jessica Hallett

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York