Saratoga Springs, NY – The 2023 racing season reached its conclusion on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 17) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

By The Book won the final feature of the year on closing day at Saratoga Sunday. Jessica Hallett photo.

In the year’s final feature, By The Book (Chapter Seven) was bet down as the race’s even-money favorite. The Scott Mongeon trainee won the Open Trot at Plainridge Park last month and followed by a third-place finish in the local Open last week was the public’s top choice on Sunday.

Jay Randall pilots By The Book who displayed early speed in the final installment of the $15,000 Open for the ’23 campaign to make the lead in a :28 second first quarter. Randall gave the favorite a nice breather in the middle half clicking off three quarters in 1:28 following a :30.1 second quarter breather.

The eight horses in the feature were separated by only four lengths at the three quarter pole but By The Book would not be denied fending off a pair of late challenges to score in 1:57.2. Invader Golden Kronos (Jimmy Devaux) toughed out a first-over journey and finished a strong second while Duckdodgendive (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot after sitting the pocket to the favored winner.

By The Book, who is owned by Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas and Tina Murray of NY, paid $4.30 to win and led an($2) exacta and ($2) triple that returned $19.20 and $111, respectively. The 4-year-old wrapped up his season with nine wins and over $88,000 in earnings.

The 2023 racing season at Saratoga is complete with the 2024 campaign set to begin on Feb. 3.