Saratoga Springs, NY — It was a monster Monday (May 22) at Saratoga Casino Hotel for driver Jim Devaux and trainer Dave Dewhurst who swept the two Series finals contested on the matinee card en route to seven and five total winners, respectively, on the day.

Primo Uomo wasted little time making the front and had little difficulty going coast-to-coast in a career-best 1:54.1 to complete his series sweep. Jessica Hallett photo.

Primo Uomo was the public’s overwhelming betting favorite in Monday’s $39,400 Dr. Richard Frank Memorial Pace final after securing victories in all three legs. Primo Uomo wasted little time making the front and had little difficulty going coast-to-coast in a career-best 1:54.1 to complete his series sweep. Longshot Aces Or Bettor (Mitch Cushing) won a place photo in the series’ conclusion while Astaires Arsenal (Billy Dobson), a two-leg winner in the series, earned the show spot.

The victory was the tenth of the year in just 12 seasonal tries for the 3-year-old son of Heston Blue Chip. Primo Uomo is owned by Chris and Dale Lawton.

Devaux and Dewhurst didn’t have much time to celebrate their big win as Primo Uomo’s stablemate City Of Hope (Met’s Hall) took to the track as the favorite in the John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trotting Series final in the race that followed the pacing final. City Of Hope wound up as the 3-5 favorite in the wagering after winning consecutive times after making a leg-one break.

Devaux was content to get a pocket ride with City Of Hope who pursued major danger Bourbon On Ice (John Stark Jr.) every step of the way. City Of Hope powered out of the two-hole on Monday to secure the biggest win of his young career when he stopped the timer in 1:58.3 for Dewhurst who co-owns City Of Hope with Philip Hale.

Devaux sat behind all five members of the Monday five-bagger for the veteran conditioner and added another pair of victories to his tally for the day, piloting seven winners in total on the matinee program.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon and features the $38,800 Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series final for fillies and mares. First post time for the matinee card is set for noon.