by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Saratoga Springs, NY — A historic New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions took place on Saturday night (Oct. 1) at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
Heston Blue Chip (American Ideal-Shot Togo Bluechip) stole the show, winning his stakes final in convincing fashion. The Linda Toscano trained standout stopped the timer in 1:53.3, the fastest mile in track history for a freshman pacer. Tim Tetrick piloted the winner for owner Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Tetrick drove two champions on the night, steering Handsoffmycookie (Art Major-Observe Me) to an open length win in 1:54.4 in the 2-year-old filly pace division for conditioner Scott Di Domenico.
Jim Morrill, Jr. also teamed two stakes winners on the chilly evening at the Spa as 3-year-old pacers Tea Party Princess (Art Major-Hannah Banana, 1:53.3) and Mojo Terror (Western Terror-Winning Mojo, 1:55.3) registered victories in their $175,000 stakes finals.
Other newly crowned 2-year-old stakes champions from Saturday night were Royal Shyster (RC Royalty-Spin The Planet), who won the colt and gelding trot final in 1:59.1 for trainer-driver Dan Daley and filly trotter For A Dancer (Conway Hall-Fluttering Wings) with Jeff Gregory at the lines in a clocking of 1:59.3.
The 3-year-old trotting winners were Ray Schnittker’s filly Jezzy (Credit Winner-Ladylind) in 1:58.3 and Trond Smedshammer’s I’m The Answer (Credit Winner-Southwind Flanders) who bested the group of colts and geldings for his biggest career win in a time of 1:56.4.
The night produced the biggest handle of the season as the crowd withstood chilly conditions to enjoy a big evening of harness racing at Saratoga.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee starting at 12:45 p.m.