Saratoga Springs, NY – It’s been an incredible season at Saratoga Casino Hotel for trainer Melissa Beckwith and on Monday (May 19) afternoon, the track’s leading trainer added five more wins to her bulky seasonal total.
Beckwith’s Platinum As (E L Titan) was the star of the day as the 7-year-old trotter overcame post position eight to win the feature. Wally Hennessey sat behind Platinum As as the veteran made his second local start following a victory in last week’s Open Trot.
Hennessey floated Platinum As out from his outside post and raced him parked the mile in the $16,000 feature for highsteppers. In a race in which longshots led the way and took the featured trotters through a first quarter in :27.2 and half in :57.4, 9-5 second choice in the wagering Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) battled first-over. He wore down the leader to briefly take the lead turning for home but when they hit the straightaway, Platinum As had one more burst of speed to him and wound up prevailing in 1:56.2 to overcome the overland journey to prevail for the second consecutive week in the Open.
Big Box Hanover was the runner-up while longshot Wania (Billy Dobson) got up to finish third. Platinum As paid $7.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $20.20 and $215.50 (on $2 wagers), respectively. The winner is owned by Fac Racing Inc, Brett Beckwith and Yannick Gingras.
Jimmy Devaux was the sulky star of the day as he piloted six winners on the matinee card.
Live racing continues on Tuesday (May 20) at Saratoga with a first post time of noon.