Saratoga Springs, NY – Belmont Royale N won the local Open Pace for the second time this season when on Monday (July 6), the Melissa Beckwith trainee parlayed a pocket ride to victory.
Aaron Byron drove Belmont Royale N was got the two-hole trip in a race that saw a first half go in :55.4. Byron pulled the pocket with Belmont Royale N as the 9-year-old took on the leader in the $18,000 Open as fellow co-favorite Prairie Rocknroll (Billy Dobson) made progress from the back of the pack.
The co-9-5 shots swallowed up the leader turning for home before squaring off in the stretch in a battle that resulted in a 1:52.2 victory for Belmont Royale N who checked in as a winner by three-quarters of a length. Prairie Rocknroll wound up second-best while Ahi Sunshine (Jimmy Devaux) came from last to finish third in the feature.
Belmont Royale N is owned in partnership by his trainer Melissa Beckwith and Bill O’Donnell. Live racing continues on Tuesday (July 7) at Saratoga with a first post time set for noon.