by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Royal Heart (Royal Art) not only won the Open Pace for the first time at Saratoga Casino and Raceway this past Saturday night (Sept. 26) but he did it in world record-equaling fashion.

Mitch Galusha photo

Royal Heart equaled the world record for a 4-year-old pacing gelding on a half-mile track.

The Jose Godinez-trained 4-year-old made his debut in the local Open and was dismissed at odds of 6-1 with leading driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. in the sulky. The pace was set by the race’s favorite JK Panache (Jim Devaux) who sizzled through lap one fractions of :26.3 and :54.2 and didn’t have the weapons to dismiss the challenge from Royal Heart.

That one surged past the leader approaching the three-quarter pole before drawing away to win in 1:50. Not only was the win time a track record for a 4-year-old pacer but it served as the fastest mile of the year at Saratoga and third fastest in track history. It also equaled the world record for a 4-year-old pacing gelding on a half-mile track set in 2014 by Just A Jolt at Harrington Raceway.

Burkentine Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) hit the board for the fifth straight time in the local feature as the runner-up to Royal Heart on Saturday night while JK Panache had to settle for third.

Royal Heart paid $15.20 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $78 and $277.50, respectively.