Saratoga Springs, NY – New York Sire Stakes action highlighted a 15-race card on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers were highlighted on a night that featured a pair of $80,000+ stakes races for sophomore New York breds. Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville-Eighthunrdolrbill-Bettor’s Delight) came to town off a lifetime-best 1:49.2 score in NYSS competition at Vernon Downs.

Huntinthelastdolar won the $82,500 NY Sire Stakes for pacers at Saratoga Saturday night. Jessica Hallett Photo.

On Saturday, Wally Hennessey piloted Huntinthelastdolar for trainer Gregg Mcnair and sat behind the sophomore as he paced a sizzling first quarter in :26.3 before getting a significant breather and reaching the half in :56.3. Huntinthelastdolar cruised to victory in 1:52.2 to record his second win in as many weeks. The 3-year-old colt, who is owned by Gregg Mcnair, George Kerr and Bradley Grant of Ontario, Canada, was his race’s co-favorite at odds of 6-5. I Was Tricked (Braxten Boyd) finished second while Goldin Greatness (Jason Bartlett) earned the show spot in the $82,500 stakes event.

The $84,000 NYSS race went the way of Duval Street (Huntsville-Native Bride-Allamerican Native) who won the biggest race of his young career on Saturday night. Jason Bartlett piloted the Ed Hart-trained 3-year-old who sat the pocket to Blue Hunt (Wally Hennessey) until evacuating the two-hole at the three quarter pole. Duval Street overpowered that rival before pacing away to score by 2-1/4 lengths in a mile clocked in 1:52.4. Blue Hunt, the 8-5 second choice in the wagering, finished second to the 3-2 favorite on Saturday while Taste Of Honey (Brett Beckwith) was third best.

It was in a $20,000 Excelsior Series race on Saturday in which the fastest mile of the 2023 season at the Spa was paced as Storm The Court (Huntsville) scored in 1:51.4 with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Mark Silva.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.