by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino Hotel

Saratoga, NY — Trotamundo (RC Royalty) won the trotting feature for the second time this season on Thursday afternoon (March 8) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Trotamundo scores his second Open win of year at Saratoga on Thursday afternoon.

The Guy Howard-trained 5-year-old hit the board in half of his 32 seasonal starts in 2017 but only registered one victory. His 2018 win tally already moved to two on Thursday as driver Billy Dobson moved Trotamundo out to the early lead in the $7,500 feature for New York-sired trotters.

The race’s pocket-sitting favorite was Explosive (Mark Beckwith) who prevailed in his first start of 2018 last week, but was no match for Trotamundo on Thursday afternoon.

Trotting away to win by open lengths, Trotamundo recorded the victory in a career-best 1:58. Whizzer Hanvover (Ron Harp) came on for second while Explosive had to settle for the show spot.

The win helped Dobson pad his lead in the driver standings early on in the campaign on an afternoon when Jay Randall was the driving star. The veteran reinsman piloted three winners on the matinee card.

Live racing continues on Friday evening with a 6:45 p.m. first post.