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

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

La Bella Vita N (Changeover) stayed red hot on a chilly afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday. The Alicia Gray-trained distaffer overcame her outside post to win the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Shawn Gray sat behind the seven year old as she won her third consecutive start on Monday.

Bouncing back and forth between Saratoga and Plainridge this summer, La Bella Vita N powered out early from post seven in the seven-horse feature and although she had to work hard to post a 27 second flat first quarter, the New Zealand invader got a big time breather in quarter two before reaching the half in 57 seconds. Probert (Brett Beckwith) wound up first-over on the race’s favorite on Monday and although she tested her in the stretch, the chase proved futile.

La Bella Vita N stopped the timer in 1:53.4 for her second victory in the local Open and her tenth win of the 2022 season. The even-money favorite led an exacta with Probert second that paid $19 while the triple, which was rounded out by Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson), returned $49.60. She is owned by Bowie Racing of Illinois and Michael Goldberg Racing of Massachusetts.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Probert (Dali) has enjoyed a massively successful 2022 campaign while racing a handful of different tracks. Despite piling up more than $85,000 in earnings and winning four times on the season, the five year old hadn’t recorded a victory in a couple months when she made her return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon.

The Melissa Beckwith-trained Probert was back to the Spa to compete in the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open just three weeks after being a well-beaten favorite in the local feature. Probert finished second or third six times in her previous seven starts heading into Monday’s tilt and wound up being the even money in the ladies’ feature. Brett Beckwith pulled Probert first-over on the leader and eventually ground that one into submission before drawing away to win by two lengths.

Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) also thrived from off the pace in Monday’s Open and closed to finish second while pocket-sitting Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) came on to be third. It was the second win in the local Open this year for Probert who scored in the feature back in May. On Monday, she paid $4.30 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $21.40 and $91, respectively.

The Open score was one of two victories on the day for trainer Melissa Beckwith and driver Bret Beckwith who teamed up for a wire-to-wire score with Seafood Sweetheart (American Ideal) in a low-level conditional race. Probert is owned by Howard Jacobs, Jim Winske and Marcus Kemblowski.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser