Saratoga Springs, NY — Mr McLaren N and Larry Stalbaum pushed to the early lead and never looked back en route to a 1:54 win in Saturday’s (July 26) $16,000 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Mr McLaren N won three Opens in the springtime before taking a bit of time off leading up to a start in last week’s featured race for pacers. Following a non-productive return try, Mc McLaren N proved ready to roll in this second start back. The 8-year-old son of Mach Three got a first quarter in :27.2 before slowing things down to reach the half in a leisurely :57.4. Talking Tom (Leon Bailey) sat the pocket to the leader while Soho Skyfall A (Jay Randall) followed that pair along the pylon path throughout the mile. The outer flow didn’t thrive, and the top three finished just as they started with Mr McLaren N prevailing over pocket-sitting Talking Tom and Soho Skyfall A.
Mr McLaren N, whom Stalbaum also owns and trains, paid $11.00 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $39.20 and $103, respectively. Mr Mclaren N joins The Good Doctor and Lanjo Lee as four-time Open Pace winners at the Spa this season.
Live racing at Saratoga resumes on Monday (July 28) with a 12 noon first post and a carryover of $2,136 in the Pick-5 (races 1-5).