The Saturday (Oct. 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino Hotel and Vernon Downs.

Lord Willoughby A wins Sarataga feature 

Saratoga Springs, NY — Lord Willoughby A (Mach Three) was raging with pace in the stretch in his debut in the local Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel last week. On Saturday night (Oct. 5), the Tracy Tarantino trainee wasn’t going to risk getting caught inside again and driver Larry Stalbaum moved first-over at the half with Lord Willoughby A in the $15,000 Open.

Lord Willoughby A recorded his first win in an Open event at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

Bet down to odds of 9-5, the public’s top choice in the wagering was tasked with grinding local star Hudson Phil (Jay Randall) into submission after a half-mile in 55.2. Lord Willoughby A’s pressure proved too much for that rival as the race’s favorite took over the lead past three-quarters in 1:23.1. Century Endeavor (Gerry Mattison), the runner-up in two consecutive Opens heading into Saturday night, shook loose around the final turn to serve as the stretch threat for the favorite.

The chase proved to be futile as Lord Willoughby A stopped the timer in 1:52.2 to record his first win in the local Open. Century Endeavor came up second-best once again while last week’s Open winner Betterlatethnnever (Mitchell Cushing) earned the show spot.

Lord Willoughby A paid $5.60 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $21 and $88.50, respectively. The victory was the fourth in the last six installments of the Open Pace for Stalbaum and trainer Tracy Tarantino whose Crockets Cullen N has recorded a trio of Open wins in the last two months.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 6) with a matinee beginning at 12 p.m.

— by Mike Sardella

Vernon Downs

Skip Jive (Jimmy Whittemore) and Brookdale Bruiser (John MacDonald) each won the $6,000 co-features for pacers on Saturday (Oct. 5) at Vernon Downs. Skip Jive ($13.80) charged late to win the first of the twin features. Sometimes Said (John MacDonald) went to the front and put up all the early numbers (:25.3, :54.2, 1:23). Skip Jive, who is owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Marissa Chadbourne, was fourth after three-quarters. He went to the front as they reached the stretch and held off a late charge by second place finisher Jet Rock (Josh Kinney) to win in a seasonal best of 1:51.3. Sometimes Said held on for third. Skip Jive is a 6-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven. It was his fourth win in 2019. He now has 20 career victories. Brookdale Bruiser ($13.80) captured the second of the two features. Brookdale Bruiser hit the first quarter in :27. Daliocity (Jeff Sorenson) went along side as they went around the first turn. The two were noses apart as they hit the half in :56.4. Brookdale Bruiser shook lose and led by a length as he hit three-quarters in 1:25.4. Brookdale Bruiser, who is owned by the J P Stables and trained by MacDonald, turned for home with the lead. He dug in and held off second place finisher Poisonous (Jimmy Whittemore) to win in 1:52.4. Sweet Deisel (Joe Nassimos) finished third. Brookdale Bruiser is a 5-year-old gelding by Roll With Joe. It was his ninth win this season. He now has 17 career victories. John MacDonald drove four winners on the night. He got his other wins with JNM Express ($6.30), Quickcallblue Chip ($10.40), and Lunar Stride ($9.90). Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (October 11) at 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

 — by John Horne