by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway

Saratoga, NY — In The Huddle (American Ideal) parlayed the pocket trip to victory in Saturday’s (April 15) $13,000 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Joe De Carlo-trained pacer has spent much of his year competing at Yonkers Raceway but won his lone start at the Spa last month.

Michael Panzarino photo

In The Huddle wins the Saturday feature at Saratoga Raceway.

In the Huddle did not disappoint the betting public on Saturday night who backed him to the tune of odds of 3-5. The 5-year-old pacer sat the pocket to JK Panache (Mark Beckwith) who set blistering fractions in the feature. After a first quarter in :26.4 and a half in :55.2, JK Panache held strong in the five-horse Open before giving way to In The Huddle, who surged by late to win in 1:51.3 over a track labeled ‘good.’

JK Panache had to settle for second and has now finished first or second in six of his last seven starts. Artful Way (Frank Coppola Jr), the only horse to post a faster time this year than the one put up by In The Huddle on Saturday night, earned the show spot.

In The Huddle, who is owned by the Bigshow Racing Stable of Saratoga Springs, was driven to the Open score by Chris Long.

Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon (April 20) at the Spa with a 12:15 p.m. first post.