Saturday NYSS action at Saratoga
June 25, 2023,Saratoga Springs, NY – New York Sire Stakes action highlighted a 15-race card on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers were highlighted on a night that featured a pair of $80,000+ stakes races for sophomore New York breds. Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville-Eighthunrdolrbill-Bettor’s Delight) came to town off a lifetime-best 1:49.2 score in NYSS competition at Vernon Downs.
On Saturday, Wally Hennessey piloted Huntinthelastdolar for trainer Gregg Mcnair and sat behind the sophomore as he paced a sizzling first quarter in :26.3 before getting a significant breather and reaching the half in :56.3. Huntinthelastdolar cruised to victory in 1:52.2 to record his second win in as many weeks. The 3-year-old colt, who is owned by Gregg Mcnair, George Kerr and Bradley Grant of Ontario, Canada, was his race’s co-favorite at odds of 6-5. I Was Tricked (Braxten Boyd) finished second while Goldin Greatness (Jason Bartlett) earned the show spot in the $82,500 stakes event.
The $84,000 NYSS race went the way of Duval Street (Huntsville-Native Bride-Allamerican Native) who won the biggest race of his young career on Saturday night. Jason Bartlett piloted the Ed Hart-trained 3-year-old who sat the pocket to Blue Hunt (Wally Hennessey) until evacuating the two-hole at the three quarter pole. Duval Street overpowered that rival before pacing away to score by 2-1/4 lengths in a mile clocked in 1:52.4. Blue Hunt, the 8-5 second choice in the wagering, finished second to the 3-2 favorite on Saturday while Taste Of Honey (Brett Beckwith) was third best.
It was in a $20,000 Excelsior Series race on Saturday in which the fastest mile of the 2023 season at the Spa was paced as Storm The Court (Huntsville) scored in 1:51.4 with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Mark Silva.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.