The first leg of the Jim Derue Memorial Trotting Series was contested on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The fifth annual Derue Memorial kicked off with three divisions for trotters five years old and younger. The Perry Simser-trained Winter Mint pulled off the biggest upset of the three divisions as he prevailed in a career-best 157.3. Scoring at odds of 7-1 and driven to victory by Jimmy Devaux, Winter Mint was the fastest among the three winners in leg one. Golden Kronos and Bruce Aldrich scored first over in 158.2 at odds of 7-2 to secure his leg one victory while the only favorite to prevail in the series’ first leg was Jaymes Mcassey’s Laser Leo who went coast-to-coast in 158 flat with Billy Dobson in the sulky. There are two legs of the Derue Memorial before the Series Final that is scheduled to go for a purse of 36,000 dollars.
Live racing resumes on Friday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6 45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
