by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino Hotel

Saratoga Springs, NY — The last time Wings Of Royalty (RC Royalty) raced at Saratoga Casino Hotel, the George Ducharme trainee got away last in a mile that would be trotted in 1:54 by Ron Burke’s Gural Hanover.

In that start, Wings Of Royalty made a brief break approaching the half but still ended up finishing fourth after a late surge.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Wings Of Royalty scored in a track record of 1:54.

Following that start, the 5-year-old trotter finished second in a track record performance by Gural Hanover at Plainridge before competing in and making a break in the $303,050 John Cashman Memorial Trot at the Meadowlands.

On Tuesday night (Aug. 15), it was back to the Spa for Wings Of Royalty who would be the 6-5 betting favorite in the $18,000 Open Trot.

Chris Lems was in to drive the talented trotter who was moved out to the early lead. Behind matching halves of :57, Wings Of Royalty stopped the timer in 1:54, matching Gural Hanover’s effort as the fastest of the year for any trotter at Saratoga. The time also serves as a new track record for an older trotting horse at the Spa.

Up The Alley (Mark Beckwith) sat the pocket and finished second in the Open while last week’s Open winner Twisted Pretzel (Jim Devaux) earned the show spot.

Wings Of Royalty has now earned more than $628,000 in 53 lifetime starts by way of 17 career victories.

Live racing continues on Wednesday night at Saratoga with New York Sire Stakes action featured. First post time is set for 7:05 p.m.