Trainer Brett Derue has had another terrific season this year at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the top-flight conditioner enjoyed another big day on Monday afternoon. Derue is part of the ownership group who acquired trotter Bridge Works (Dejarmbro) this week and debuted him in the Open Trot on Monday. Wally Hennessey piloted Bridge Works who was tasked with facing the combo of Exarch and Cash Me Out who between them had won six of the previous seven installments of the Open Trot. With Cash Me Out setting soft fractions on the engine, Bridge Works powered up first-over and cruised past the millionaire trotter highlighted by a third quarter in which he trotted 27.4. The five year old opened up a sizeable lead turning for home and despite having rivals Gettin Messi (Chris Long) and Lazzaro (Billy Dobson) closing in on him in the stretch held on to win the $14,000 feature in 1:56.2. Bridge Works paid $9.50 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta with Gettin Messi second that came back $207. The triple with Lazzaro third returned $2,022. Bridge Works was one of two winners on the day for the ownership team of Picarazzi, Petillo, Bullard and Derue, all of NY, whose Meadowbrook Nate prevailed in his Saratoga debut in the afternoon’s opener with leading driver Jimmy Devaux in the sulky.

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

Mike Sardella

Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) did what he pretty much always does when on Monday afternoon the veteran trotter won another Open. The ten year old Kyle Spagnola trainee cruised to the front end in the $20,000 Open Trot and, though he worked hard to get to the top in 27.1, enjoyed a nice breather in the middle half. With the likely favorite Reign Of Honor being scratched from the race, Cash Me Out wound up as the 2-5 betting favorite on Monday and when his major danger Exarch (Jimmy Devaux) made a break after the start, it looked like it would be smooth sailing for the millionaire high-stepper. Cash Me Out coasted through a first half in 57.3 before reaching three quarters in 1:26.3 and didn’t face much of a challenge at any point in the mile. Exarch rallied extremely well in the final half and closed to be second to the favorite while longshot Bucketlist Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot. Cash Me Out, who stopped the timer in 1:56.1, won for the eighth time of the season and the sixth in the local feature for trotters. Cash Me Out led an exacta and triple that paid $6.90 and $46, respectively. The star trotter won for the 65^th time in his illustrious career for owner Mike Traylor of Ballston Spa, NY.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with first post time set for noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Trainer Tiffanee Staley and driver Denis St. Pierre have enjoyed a ton of success this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel after relocating here from Canada. St. Pierre is a Spa veteran but this most recent local stint for him is the first with Staley running the stable. The tandem had two horses in on Monday afternoon as razor sharp trotters Reign Of Honor and Tesla Seelster both looked to continue their hot streaks at Saratoga. Reign Of Honor (Father Patrick) prevailed in his first start in the local Open Trot in early June and after a brief stint out of town returned to the Spa to take part in the $14,000 Open on Monday.

St. Pierre forwardly placed the 3-5 betting favorite a bit and got away fourth in the six-horse feature. Reign Of Honor powered up first-over on major danger Exarch (Jimmy Devaux) who has been on a tear of his own as he’s made himself into one of the top trotters at the track over the past couple of months. Reign Of Honor just kept plugging away before wearing Exarch down to score in 1:55.3 and stay undefeated in the local feature. Exarch was a strong second once again while Bridge Works (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot. Reign Of Honor led a chalky exacta that paid $5.10 and a triple that returned $15.80.

St. Pierre and Staley teamed up to go two-for-two on Monday when Tesla Seelster (Muscle Mass) extended her win streak to four. The four year old trotter brushed to the lead past the quarter in her $9,500 race for trotters and expanded her advantage with seemingly every stride before recording the victory in 1:57.2. The win for Tesla Seelster was her sixth in eight starts since coming to town from Canada for Staley and St. Pierre.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga when a $156,600 New York Sire Stakes race for three year old trotting colts and geldings takes center stage. First post time is Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Simple Kinda Man (Sportswriter) has been a monster since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel last month and on Monday, the Brett Derue trainee scored in his first attempt in the Open Pace. Simple Kinda Man won his local debut in June when he circled the field behind a three-wide move to prevail in 1:53.4. After finishing second the following week, the six year old pacer moved up into the $12,850 Winners Over for pacers last Monday (July 5^th) and dazzled when he went wire-to-wire in 1:50.4, a clocking that at the time was the fastest of the meet at Saratoga. On Monday afternoon, Simple Kinda Man took yet another jump up in company and drew post seven in the seven-horse Open Pace which went for a purse of $14,000. Driver Jimmy Devaux was forced to take back early with Simple Kinda Man who sat last as first half fractions of 26.1 and 54 seconds popped up on the timer. With the favorite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) softened by those fractions on the front end, the backfield was set in motion in the race’s final lap and invader Chatelroll (Wally Hennessey) rolled past the leader to take over. Simple Kinda Man, who was still in sixth at the three quarter pole, came motoring home and flew past his rivals to record his first Open Pace victory stopping the timer in 1:51.3. He paid $19.80 to win and led an exacta with Chatelroll second that came back $85.50. The triple with longshot Quagmire Bluechip (Brett Beckwith) third returned a hefty $1,107. The winner, who overcame nearly a twelve-length deficit at the quarter pole, is owned by Steve Picarazzi, Scott Petillo and trainer Brett Derue all of New York who also had a Monday score with their Nothing To Prove who scored a hat trick with reinsman Wally Hennessey at the controls. It was back-to-back wins in the Open Pace for Devaux on Monday who piloted Sports Obsession to victory in last week’s feature for pacers.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Sports Obsession (Sportswriter) made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday to compete in the Open Pace. The Jimmy Nickerson-trained pacer raced at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts for the last month after a strong stint at the Spa in which he had a first, a second and a third in three tries in the local feature. On Monday, Sports Obsession drew post four in the $14,000 Open and driver Jimmy Devaux powered the four year old out to the early lead. The Nickerson trainee sizzled on the engine hitting the quarter in 26.3 before reaching the half in 55.4. The race’s 1-5 betting favorite put in his bid first-over but never got close to the leader before fading from the scene. Sports Obsession, who went off at odds of 9-1, clicked off three quarters in 1:24 before holding firm in the stretch to prevail in 1:53.1 to record his second win in the local Open this season. Macheasy A (Chris Long) sat the pocket to the winner and finished second while longshot Wyatt J (Billy Dobson) closed to be third in the five-horse feature. Sports Obsession paid $20.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $86 and $343, respectively. The four year old boosted his career earnings to over the quarter million dollar mark on Monday for owner Joseph Trice of Hampden, ME. The final four races on Monday’s card were canceled.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Exarch (Cantab Hall) has established himself as a formidable Open trotter at Saratoga Casino Hotel in recent weeks and on Monday afternoon, the six year old won the trotting feature for the second consecutive week. Exarch was the runner-up two weeks ago (June 7) in his debut in the local Open and followed it up with a pocket-sitting score last Monday (June 14). In this week’s installment of the $14,000 Open, Exarch was assigned the outside post and blasted out at the start under the guidance of reinsman Jimmy Devaux. Parked out in the early going, Devaux went pedal to the metal with Exarch who didn’t stop until he reached the top getting to the lead in a demanding first quarter of 27.1. Released at odds of 7-2 in an evenly bet featured race, Exarch cruised through a half in 56.3 before being confronted by millionaire trotter Cash Me Out (Phil Fluet) who took the leader to task. Those two slugged it out toe-to-toe throughout the entire final half before Exarch put him away in the final strides. Stopping the timer in 1:56.1, Exarch won for the fifth time this season and third time in the last five starts since moving to the stable of trainer John Gerow last month. The rising star among local trotters paid $9.60 to win and led an exacta with Cash Me Out second that came back $40.20. Brady Bunch (Steve Genois) closed to finish third and round out a $148.50 triple. Exarch is owned by the Fortune Valley Stable of Ballston Spa, NY.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga. The carryover in the Jackpot Pick Six has climbed to $2,901. The Super High Five Jackpot is up to $4,982 and that wager takes place in the final race on every program. Both bets are 20 cent wagers. First post is set for Noon.

Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Exarch (Cantab Hall) had a strong showing last Monday (June 7) when making his local debut in the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel. John Gerow trains the six year old gelding for the Fortune Valley Stable of Ballston Spa, NY and after finishing second in last week’s feature while dismissed at odds of 9-1, Exarch got a bit more board support this week when he drew post five for his second start in the local Open. Jimmy Devaux piloted Exarch who utilized his early speed to come away in the pocket behind the race’s favorite Gigfy. Exarch sat patiently as Gigfy cruised through three quarters in 1:26.2 before taking his shot turning for home when Devaux popped the pocket. Gigfy faltered late and Exarch surged by to prevail in 1:56.4 and record his first ever win in the Open Trot at Saratoga. Hot Wheelz (Chris Long), who was making his debut in the Open, closed sharply late in the mile and passed several rivals before finishing second. Gettin Messi (Wally Hennessey) came on to be third. Exarch paid $9.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $111 and $405.50, respectively. The win was the fourth of the season for Exarch and the second since moving to the Gerow barn a little over a month ago.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Reign Of Honor (Father Patrick) made his Open Trot debut on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Tiffanee Staley trainee was beaten as a 1-5 betting favorite two weeks ago when he came up second-best while racing at the Spa for the first time. Last week (May 31), the five year old avenged that defeat with a decisive score in an $11,250 race for conditional trotters. This week it was up into the $14,000 Open for Reign Of Honor who was backed by the betting public to the tune of even money with Denis St. Pierre in the sulky. The favorite left a bit at the start but still had to come from off the pace in the Monday feature. With upset minded Exarch (Jimmy Devaux) on the engine setting fast fractions, Reign Of Honor followed second-over cover and tipped off that cover following three-quarters that went in 1:24.4 on a hot afternoon in upstate NY. Exarch held strong but didn’t have the power to turn away Reign Of Honor in the stretch as the favorite surged by before stopping the timer in 1:55, the fastest clocking of the season for a trotter at the Spa. Reign Of Honor now owns three wins in nine seasonal starts and has amassed over $470,000 in just 48 lifetime starts. Exarch was a strong second on Monday while dismissed at odds of 9-1 while Winning Legends (Justin Huckabone) earned the show spot. The exacta and triple in the Open paid $27.20 and $101.50, respectively. Reign Of Honor is owned by Randy Zane of Laval, QC, Canada.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with first post time set for Noon. There is a $4,288 carryover in the Pick Five pool for Tuesday. The Pick Five begins in race one on the matinee card.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

There were three divisions of the second leg of the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series contested on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trotters had their final chance to acquire points towards punching tickets to the $30,000+ Final. The leg one dominant force cemented his series favorite status on Monday as Dewey Arnold (Deweycheatumnhowe) again proved much the best. The Dave Dewhurst trainee came into leg two on a four-race win streak and left it with five consecutive victories under his belt. Jimmy Devaux piloted the three year old trotter to yet another decisive, front-running romp in his $10,000 division of the series as he stopped the timer in a dazzling 1:55.4. Battle Queen (Billy Dobson) finished second to Dewey Arnold for the second consecutive week and locked up her spot in next week’s Final. Dewey Arnold gave Devaux one of his five driving wins on the matinee program.

Royal Soldier (RC Royalty) got a pocket trip for trainer-driver Dan Cappello Jr. and proved up to the task in his division of the series. The five year old cruised up the passing lane before stopping the timer in 1:57.3 to set a new lifetime mark and secure his spot in next week’s Final. Royal Soldier paid $6.30 to win as he ended the win streak of Cindy Michelle (John Stark Jr). Leg one winner Cindy Michelle was her race’s favorite as she came into leg two off four consecutive victories. The first-over trip got the best of her on Monday though she ended up a strong third and will be part of next week’s Final. There was a longshot winner in the Mongeon Memorial’s second leg. Ruthless Workout (Whataworkout) parlayed his pocket trip to victory with leading driver Billy Dobson at the controls. Ruthless Workout, who is trained by Scott Mongeon, sprung the upset while dismissed at odds of 17-1. The Final of the eighth annual John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Series is set for next Monday (May 24) and will go for a purse of upwards of $30,000.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Monday marked the kickoff of the 8^th annual John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The series, which went on hiatus in 2020, is back this year and during Monday’s matinee, there were three divisions of the first leg, each of which went for a purse of $10,000. Coming into the day, the series’ clear one to beat was Dewey Arnold. The Dave Dewhurst-trained three year old was back in town following an overwhelmingly successful stint at Pocono Downs that saw the sophomore rattle off three straight victories including his most recent one which came in a career-best 1:53.2. Dewey Arnold (Deweycheatumnhowe) had one thing going against him coming into the series though. He made breaks in each of his two starts at the Spa this spring which potentially made him vulnerable in the series. The betting public wasn’t concerned about the breaks though and bet the talented trotter down to odds of 1-9 in the first division of the series contested on Monday. The bettors were proven correct as Jimmy Devaux guided Dewey Arnold to a decisive, wire-to-wire score in 1:57.2, a time that by far was the fastest among the leg one winners as he stamped himself as the big favorite in the series.

Notoutofthewoods (Prayer I Am) picked a good time to put in a lifetime-best effort on Monday as the Cheryl Whitcroft-trained trotter stopped the timer in 2:00.2 to record her biggest career victory in leg one of the Mongeon Memorial Trot. Driver Mark Whitcroft got a pocket trip with the four year old who moved off the rail around the final turn before coming on to prevail while at odds of 3-1. The final leg of the first division went the way of young filly Cindy Michelle (E L Titan). The John Stark Jr. trained and driven three year old won her fourth consecutive race on Monday and did it despite getting a tough first-over journey. Cindy Michelle stopped the timer in a career-best 1:59.3 in what was her fourth win in five lifetime starts. She was her race’s even-money favorite. There is one division of the series remaining which will take place next Monday afternoon (May 17^th) leading up to the Final which will go for a purse of more than $30,000.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy