The Veteran (Muscle Mass-Tequila Summer-Yankee Glide) continued his monster sophomore season on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the George Ducharme trainee not only prevailed in his $89,950 division of the New York Sire Stakes but he did so in track record-setting fashion. The Veteran was the 1-5 betting favorite on Friday as he recorded his sixth win in nine seasonal starts in the NY Sire Stakes race for three year old colt and gelding trotters. Driver Scott Zeron, who is just one week removed from his win in the Hambletonian with the filly Atlanta, continued his magical 2018 campaign as he was in town to pilot the favorite in each of the two big Sire Stakes races on the card. With early speed in the race setting the table for a closer, The Veteran wound up moving three-wide with about 3/8 of a mile remaining in the stakes try. The talented sophomore overpowered his competitors before drawing away in the stretch to win by nine lengths in 1:54.3. The win time serves as a new track record for three year old trotting colts, lowering the previous mark set almost two years ago to the day by Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Daley). The 1:54.3 clocking also matches the previous mark set by Tropical Storm Bi for the fastest time for any trotter at Saratoga in the 2018 season.
Zeron also piloted the winner of the other $89,950 division of the NYSS on Friday as Linda Toscano’s Helpisontheway (Chapter Seven-Porque-Plesac) lived up to the hype at odds of 1-9. Zeron moved the big favorite out to the early lead and the talented sophomore high-stepper cruised to an open-length romp in 1:55.1 for his fourth consecutive win and sixth in ten seasonal tries. With the winnings from the Friday score, Helpisontheway now has earnings of over $200,000 in 2018.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga while NYSS action returns to the Spa on Tuesday night when two year old pacing colts and geldings take center stage. First post time each night this summer is set for 7:05pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
