Saratoga, NY — JK Panache (Art Major) is once again a nominee for Pacer of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the ultra-consistent Dave Dewhurst trainee again showed why on Saturday night (Nov. 24).

JK Panache (Art Major) is once again a nominee for Pacer of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

A formidable threat in the Open Pace at the Spa for the last several years, JK Panache was the second-choice in the wagering when bet down to odds of 5-2 in Saturday’s installment of the $20,000 Open. Driver Shawn Gray got the 9-year-old away well and sat patiently in the early going before springing JK Panache into action heading to the half. With longshot Yonkers invader Badix Hanover (Bruce Aldrich Jr) on the front end, JK Panache did what he always does.

The classmaster attempted to grind the top one into submission while chipping away at the lead before putting him away in mid-stretch. JK Panache got up in time to prevail in 1:52.2 to record his fourth Open Pace win of the season and eighth victory overall.

Though his last local Open win came in early May, JK Panache has been a regular runner-up in the Saturday feature and has recorded some victories in the Winners Over along the way as well. Badix Hanover was a strong second in his local debut on Saturday while Ourlittlegeneral A (Jordan Derue) followed the winner’s cover to wind up finishing third. Paying $7.10 to win, JK Panache led an exacta and triple that came back $77.50 and $621, respectively.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with first post time set for 12:15 p.m.