It was a fantastic week at Saratoga Casino Hotel for Larry Stalbaum. The veteran reinsman piloted his 6,000^th career winner on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, Stalbaum guided three winners including in the Open Pace with his superstar Crockets Cullen N. The wins kept coming on Wednesday for Stalbaum who had three victories with his trainees including one in the feature. Miss Irish Rose A (McArdle) went coast-to-coast in the Fillies and Mares Open on Wednesday evening scoring in 1:54.2. The eight year old mare’s victory was her third in the local Open for distaffers this season. She was the public’s 3-2 betting favorite as she held off late charges from pocket-sitter Thats Incredible (Billy Dobson), who was the runner-up in the Open for the third time in the last four weeks, and longshot Surreal Feeling (Jay Randall), who earned the show spot. The exacta and triple in the paid $14.20 and $72.50, respectively. Stalbaum also guided his Jericho Diva (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Abby Rose (Heston Blue Chip) to Wednesday wins. Abby Rose, a two year old filly, is now two-for-three in her young career after following up a victory in the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Series A with a decisive score in her local debut which saw her stop the timer in 1:56.3. Stalbaum drove eight winners and secured five training victories during the week’s action at the Spa.

Live racing takes place next week on Monday and Tuesday afternoon beginning at 12 noon and on Wednesday evening starting at 7:15pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Bontz N has been the female force among pacers at Saratoga Casino Hotel this season. The nine year old distaffer won her fifth Filly and Mare Open of the year on Tuesday afternoon as her regular pilot Shawn Gray got the favored mare to coast through a comfortable first lap before drawing off from the competition in the final half. Bontz N was the 4-5 betting favorite in the $8,500 feature and cruised uncontested through a first half that went in 58.1. From there, the chase was futile for the rivals of the favorite who prevailed by a measured half length over pocket-sitter Thats Incredible (Billy Dobson) in a mile clocked in 1:55.1. Barynya A (Sam King) sat third behind the top two throughout the mile and earned the show spot. Bontz N led an exacta and triple that returned $9.70 and $55, respectively. Bontz N’s trainer Gary Levine came into the week atop the trainer standings this season but conditioner Melissa Beckwith piled up three wins on the Tuesday card as she and Levine remain very close at the top. With the driving victory in the ladies’ Open, Shawn Gray has now piloting the winner of the most recent installment of the Fillies and Mares Open, the Open Pace and Open Trot.

Live racing continues on Wednesday evening with a mostly New York Sire Stakes filled program as two year old pacing colts and geldings are featured. First post time is set for 7:15pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Bontz N (American Ideal) continued her win streak in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Thursday as she changed tactics to score her fourth consecutive victory in the local feature. Trainer Gary Levine thrived in 2019 after acquiring Bontz N who has enjoyed as good of a ’20 campaign as could be. Thursday was the fifth start of the season for the nine year old mare who was assigned the outside post in the $8,500 feature. Bontz N came into the race on a three-race win streak, which dated back to March, with all three of those wins coming in wire-to-wire fashion. In Thursday’s feature, driver Shawn Gray was forced to come from off the pace with the race’s 2-1 betting favorite but the closing style suited Bontz N just fine as she put the swoop to the group before stopping the timer in 1:54.1 to record her fourth win in as many tries. The final time served as a new seasonal mark for the standout distaffer who has become the lady to beat this season at the Spa. Thats Incredible (Billy Dobson) came charging hard in the stretch to finish second while Jewels Forreal (Mark Beckwith) closed to be third. Bontz N paid $6.90 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $27.20 and $136, respectively.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12 Noon. There will be a $3,885 carryover in the Pick Five pool with the Pick Five beginning in the afternoon’s first race.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino