Saratoga Springs, NY — Hudson Phil (Shanghai Phil) became the first horse at Saratoga Casino Hotel to win the Open Pace four times in 2019 when he went coast-to-coast on Saturday (June 22) night with Jay Randall in the sulky.

Hudson Phil became the first four-time winner of the Open at Saratoga this season. Melissa Simser-Iovino Photo.

Trainer Jackie Greene has taken home three consecutive Pacer of the Year awards with her Artful Way who is again enjoying a strong ’19 campaign but on Saturday evening, it was Artful Way’s stablemate who took the lead among local Open pacers after recording his fourth victory in the $15,000 feature this year.

Assigned the outside post in the field of seven, Hudson Phil powered out to the lead in the first quarter of a snappy :26.4 but really never faced a solid threat before checking in at three quarters in 1:23.4. When the race’s pocket-sitter made a break turning for home, the lead became insurmountable for Hudson Phil who opened up before winning by two and a half lengths in 1:52.

Kiwi Tintin N (Jimmy Devaux) came on to finish second while veteran pacer Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) earned the show spot. The exacta and triple paid $21.00 and $56.00 led by the race’s even money favorite Hudson Phil whose win was the 16^th of his career in just his 49th-lifetime start.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a Noon first post.