Saratoga Springs, NY — Winter Mint (Credit Winner) was the fastest among the winners of the $11,000 co-features at Saratoga Casino Hotel on the Thursday afternoon (Nov. 8) program.

Winter Mint soared clear to take one of three $11,000 co-featured trots on Thursday at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

The Perry Simser trainee was the 1-2 favorite in his division of the three co-features for New York-sired trotters. Frank Coppola Jr. piloted Winter Mint and kept that one close to the action early on before cutting him loose first-over. The 4-year-old trotted away to prevail in 1:58.2, the fastest win time of the three co-features. Winter Mint’s victory was the second in his last four starts and second of the season.

While Winter Mint was a big favorite on Thursday, Lasa Dida Lady (Deweycheatumnhowe) was a big long shot when she went last to first to pull off a 21-1 upset. Trainer John Stark Jr. drove Lasa Dida Lady, who swooped the group and took advantage of some traffic trouble for the race’s favorite en route to her eighth win of the season, stopping the timer in 2:00.2.

Stark had the runners-up in the other two $11,000 trotting events on the card with Miss Muscle and Jeter’s Way.

Cherry Peep (Conway Hall) parlayed her pocket ride to victory in the final of three co-features on the day, as the Amy Dowd trainee sat patiently throughout before pouncing in the stretch and stopping the timer in 1:59.1 with Jay Randall in the sulky. Cherry Peep’s win was her first in three starts since moving to the Dowd stable. She bested Jeter’s Way en route to her fifth victory of 2018.

Live racing continues on Friday (Nov. 9) at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.