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

The red-hot stretch for conditioner Amanda Kelley continued on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The meet’s second leading trainer saw her stable’s star Some Waratah A (Somebeachsomewhere) add yet another to his impressive win total for the season as the Aussie invader prevailed in Tuesday’s $14,000 Open Pace. Some Waratah A moved his record to six for nine in 2021 as the talented pacer scored in 1:52.4 to register his third win in four starts in the local feature. Greg Merton was forced to change tactics with Some Waratah A this week in the Open as the race was filled with early speed. A horse who has thrived on the lead since coming to the U.S. this winter came from off the pace this week and had the benefit of being a closer in a race that went to the half in 55 seconds. Some Waratah A got a second-over trip and powered off his cover heading to the three-quarter pole before taking the lead in the stretch. Some Waratah A was the Open’s 4-5 betting favorite as he bested invader Lachie Maguire N (Jimmy Devaux) and Artful Way (Billy Dobson) who finished second and third. The exacta and triple paid $43 and $156, respectively. Some Waratah A was one of four winners on the card for his connections as owner the Scheigert Racing Stable of Saratoga Springs, NY, Amanda Kelley and Greg Merton teamed up for a grand slam on the beautiful spring afternoon in the Spa City. In addition to the win in the Open, they scored victories with pacers Lake Charles, Franco Tristan N and Real Kid to continue their local hot streak.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

On Monday afternoon, we had a first-time Open winner at Saratoga Casino Hotel as Gigfy parlayed a pocket ride to prevail in the Open Trot en route to his first ever victory in the local trotting feature. On Tuesday, Sports Obsession (Sportwriter) came into the $14,000 Open Pace seeking to be the next horse to prevail in an Open for the first time at the Spa. Jimmy Devaux piloted the Jimmy Nickerson-trained pacer to a second-place finish in last week’s (April 27) Open. On Tuesday, Sports Obsession returned to the front-end and Devaux gave the four year old a bit of breather after reaching the quarter in 27.4. After getting a half in 57 seconds, Sports Obsession was tested only mildly to three-quarters before checking-in in 1:24.4. Sports Obsession, who went off at odds of 4-1, was then met with the challenge from pocket-sitting favorite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) but rebuffed that bid in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:53 to register his first Open win at the Spa. Crockets Cullen N had to settle for second while longshot Juxlivin My Dream (Shawn Gray) finished third. Sports Obsession paid $10.20 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $23.40 and $151.50, respectively. For Sports Obsession, while it was his first score in a local feature, it was victory number five on the season. The young pacer, who is owned by Joseph Trice, of Hampden, ME, accounted for one of the three winners for Devaux on the Tuesday card.

Nobody hit the Pick Five on Tuesday so there will be a carryover of $4,162 for Wednesday’s Pick Five that begins in the first race. The jackpot has built up to $6,952.27 in the Jackpot Pick Six wager that kicks off in the afternoon’s sixth race. First post time is set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

It was a big afternoon on Tuesday for trainer Amanda Kelley and driver Greg Merton at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Not only did the pair win the $13,000 Open Pace together but they teamed up for a couple of victories on the card. Some Waratah A (Somebeachsomewhere) has been terrific since coming over from Australia this winter. The Kelley trainee came into Tuesday’s Open with three wins and two seconds in six starts since the move to the U.S. This week, Some Waratah A was assigned post six in the six-horse feature and driver Greg Merton put the 2-5 betting favorite in gear in the early going. Rival Sports Obsession (Jimmy Devaux) was also aggressive at the start and forced the favorite into the pocket. After cruising through the first quarter in 27.3, Sports Obsession got a breather before getting to the half in 57.1. The tempo quickened a bit heading towards three-quarters and the top two got a bit of separation from the remainder of the rivals. Some Waratah A got revved up around the final turn and powered past Sports Obsession in the lane before coming on to win in 1:53.2. After having to settle for second-best in two straight tries, Some Waratah A was able to return to the winner’s circle for his second local Open Pace victory. Sports Obsession held strong to be second while Waimac Attack N (Jay Randall) earned the show spot. Some Waratah A led an exacta and triple that paid $6.70 and $19.60 in the feature. The victory in the Open was the second on the card for Kelley and Merton who teamed up to win a claiming pacing event with Gunpowder N (Bettor’s Delight) who moved his local record to two-for-two after recording an “off the pace” score.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Macheasy A (Mach Three) has been making it look easy in his short time at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Rob Harmon-trained pacer raced for the third time at the Spa on Tuesday and moved his record to three-for-three. And he isn’t just winning. The eight year old has won the Open Pace in all three of his local tries. Jay Randall sat behind the top-flight pacer once again on Tuesday as he started from post six in the six-horse feature. Macheasy A parlayed pocket trips to victory to record his first two Open wins but this week the method changed a bit. One of two even-money shots in the $14,000 feature, Macheasy A powered out to the early lead in a 27.3 first quarter. The Aussie invader got a bit of a breather while reaching the half in 57 seconds before clicking off three-quarters in 1:24.4. Co-favored Moonshine Kisses (Billy Dobson) reversed roles with Macheasy A after cutting the mile in last week’s Open and sat the two-hole to the razor sharp rival. He took his shot in the stretch but the chase was futile as Macheasy A recorded the rare Open hat trick, stopping the timer in 1:53.1 in his third consecutive Open score. Moonshine Kisses was the runner-up once again this week while American Zest A (Larry Stalbaum) finished third. The exacta paid $7.70 while the triple came back $17.60 with the favorites thriving in the feature. Randall has now won three of the last four features at Saratoga while sitting behind Harmon trainees as Shecouldbegood N prevailed in the top race for fillies and mares at the Spa last Wednesday.

Live racing continues on Wednesday afternoon with a first set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Macheasy A (Mach Three) made it look easy winning for the second consecutive Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Rob Harmon trainee came to the Spa for the first time last week with two wins to his credit in 2021 but with no evidence that he could thrive in an Open Pace. The eight year old pacer proved otherwise last week when he parlayed a pocket ride to victory with Jay Randall at the controls. This Tuesday, Macheasy A once again got a two-hole trip behind a Jackie Greene-trained pacer. Moonshine Kisses (Billy Dobson) raced against top-flight competition at Yonkers this winter and spring and wound up going off at even money in the wagering in his return to the Spa. Moonshine Kisses cut the mile and set fast fractions on the engine on Tuesday before having Macheasy A cruise past him in the stretch. Macheasy A, who was the public’s 3-5 betting favorite, stopped the timer in a 2021 Saratoga-best 1:51.3 in his second straight win in the $11,000 Open for pacers with Randall in the sulky. The back-to-back Open champ is owned by the Harmon Racing Stable of Milford, PA. The exacta in the five-horse feature paid a chalky $3.90 while the triple with Olde Broadside (Alek Chartrand) third returned $12.60.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Out of town trainer Rob Harmon only brings a handful of horses to Saratoga Casino Hotel to compete. Usually when he does, it is Open participants that come to town for the veteran conditioner. On Tuesday, Harmon’s Macheasy A (Mach Three) made his Spa debut and drew post four in the $11,000 Open for pacers. Jay Randall catch-drove Macheasy A who went off at odds of 4-1 in his local debut. The invader got a pocket trip behind last week’s Open winner Artful Way (Billy Dobson) and rode that one’s coattails in a first half paced in 56.3. Artful Way worked hard in the early stages of the feature but did get to back things down a bit in the middle half before being met with the challenge of Macheasy A around the final turn. When Randall asked Macheasy A for his best, the eight year old pacer made it look easy and powered past the leader to assume command and draw off before recording his first Spa victory in a mile clocked in 1:53.1. Macheasy A paid $10.80 to win and led an exacta with Artful Way second that came back $34.60. Lord Willoughby A (Larry Stalbaum) finished third and rounded out a $153 triple. Macheasy A, who is owned by the Harmon Racing Stable of Milford, PA is the second Open winner of the young season at the Spa for trainer Rob Harmon whose Robyn Camden prevailed during opening week of the 2021 campaign in the Fillies and Mares Open. Trainer Gary Levine’s stable starred on Tuesday afternoon as well as the meet’s leading conditioner added three wins to his tally.

Live racing continues on Wednesday at Saratoga with a matinee kicking off at Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

There has been no horse that has enjoyed as much success at Saratoga Casino Hotel in the last five years as Artful Way. The Jackie Greene-trained pacer piled up awards last decade for Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year while the dominant force in the local Open Pace. Owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables of Queensbury, NY, Artful Way (Artistic Fella) was lightly raced last season after suffering an injury but scored a couple of victories while competing throughout the wintertime at Yonkers Raceway.  On Tuesday afternoon, Artful Way was back in town and back into the Open Pace where he drew post three in the six-horse feature. Billy Dobson piloted the nine year old stalwart who was dismissed at odds of 9-1. Dobson sat back patiently in a first half that went in a fast 55.3. The favored Some Waratah A (Greg Merton) came first over approaching the three-quarter pole before powering past the leader in three quarters of 1:24. All the while, Artful Way took up the chase and followed the move of the favorite before gunning him down in the final strides to secure his first Open win of the year in his first try in the $12,000 feature. Paying $21.20 to win is something that would have never happened in previous seasons for Artful Way who led an exacta with Some Waratah A second that returned $59. Invader Kerford Road A (Jay Randall) closed to finish third and rounded out a $261.50 triple. For Artful Way, it was win number 61 in 163 career starts for the Greene stable star. Dobson became the sixth different driver to win an Open in the six installments of features in the young season at the Spa.

Live racing continues on Wednesday at Saratoga with first post time set for Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Some Waratah A (Somebeachsomewhere) put up the fastest mile of the young racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel when on Tuesday, he went coast-to-coast to prevail in his local debut. Greg Merton piloted the Amanda Kelley trainee and moved the 4-5 betting favorite to the top in the $12,000 featured Open Pace. Some Waratah A came from Australia this winter and debuted for the Scheigert Racing Stable, of Saratoga Springs, at Yonkers in February. He rattled off back-to-back jacks downstate including a win in the Open Pace. In Tuesday’s feature, the seven year old set fast fractions throughout but looked every bit the part before stopping the timer in 1:53, the fastest time of the young meet at the Spa. Some Waratah A was briefly met with the challenge of last week’s Open winner Walkinshaw N (Jimmy Devaux) before turning that one away in mid-stretch. Pocket sitter Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) wound up finishing second while Walkinshaw N held third. Some Waratah N, who paid $3.90 to win in his local debut, was one of two winners on the card for Merton, Kelley and the Scheigert Racing Stable who teamed up for a victory in a $6,150 pacing event with Nagle (Dali).

Live racing resumes on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that kicks off at Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

Driver Shawn Gray came in to pilot two horses on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The veteran reinsman sat behind the Jaymes McAssey-trained Nerve Of Steel (Art Official) and Pasultimatedelite N (Bettor’s Delight). The former went wire-to-wire in a $5,200 claiming race while the latter sprung an upset in the $5,850 featured race for the ladies. Eleven year old Pasultimatedelite N is having a terrific 2020 campaign and won for the tenth time of the season on Tuesday. After going coast-to-coast last week, Pasultimatedelite N came from off the pace on Tuesday as Gray piloted the veteran distaffer perfectly, getting her cover heading to three quarters. With the track’s most consistent mare of the last two years Bontz N (Billy Dobson) on the engine, Pasultimatedelite N came charging hard in the stretch before springing the upset at odds of 8-1. The favorite Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) came on to be second while Bontz N held on to be third. Pasultimatedelite N paid $19.60 to win in the upset.

Nerve Of Steel N moved to claimers at Saratoga for the first time in a long time. The McAssey trainee cruised out to an early lead with Gray at the helm and proved dominant in a mile that went in 1:56.3. Nerve Of Steel N is owned by Pat O’Brien of New Hyde Park, NY who co-owns Pasultimatedelite N with George Hartman of Monroe Township, NJ. McAssey has had a terrific 2020 season and added two more victories to his strong tally on Tuesday with Gray guiding the way.

Live racing has just one week remaining for the season. Monday and Tuesday matinees will begin at Noon next week with Monday’s card highlighted by a Pick Five carryover of $2,787. The Pick Five is a 50 cent minimum wager and begins in the afternoon’s first race.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy