Spa chalks get it done in top trots

Saratoga Harness featured two $16,000 Open-Handicap co-feature races on Sunday, July 3. They were for the top harness racing trotters and one for the best pacing mares and they were both won by the race favorites.

Up first was the 6^th race Open-Handicap Trot and it belonged to Reign Of Honor (Father Patrick) and driver Shawn Gray.

The race began with some great action as Jnr Express (John Stark, Jr.) shot to the early lead with Cash Me Out (Phil Fluet) coming on the outside and then three-wide at the opening quarter was Reign Of Honor in :28.3.

Reign Of Honor and Gray made the front with Jnr Express sitting the pocket seat as they raced by the half mile in :58.2. Joxter (Brian Cross) then started up first-over from sixth place and came charging for Reign Of Honor, getting with a head of the race favorite by the three-quarters in 1:27. Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) grabbed the live second-over cover.

By the top of the stretch, Reign Of Honor had started to pull away from the field and then opened in up in the stretch to win going away with a :28.2 last quarter, winning by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:55.2. Joxter was second with Big Box Hanover third.

REIGN OF HONOR REPLAY

It was the fifth win in the last six starts for Reign Of Honor. He is trained by Kevin McDermont for owner Randy Zane of Quebec and paid $2.70 to win.

The very next 7^th race was the Mares Open-Handicap Pace and that went very different than the Open Trot did.

All Speed Rising and driver Justin Huckabone started off the show getting to the front with ease and leading the field to the first quarter in :27.2 with Dashintothebeach N (Jim Devaux) drafting in second place.

Then Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) got marching orders to come first-over and following them on the outside was That’s Incredible (Shawn Gray) and meanwhile, the race favorite Birch Island Betty and driver Billy Dobson were sitting along the rail in fifth place.

As they raced down the backstretch, Dobson decided enough was enough and he pulled on the right line and sent Birch Island Betty three-wide to the three-quarters in 1:25.3.

All Speed Rising was still strong on the lead, but Birch Island Betty failed to clear the horses, dropped back to fourth place at the top of the stretch and then found a :28.4 last quarter mile under her belt and tore off after All Speed Rising.

It was a race to the wire and try as she might, All Speed Rising could not hold off Birch Island Betty, who won by a head in a photo finish. Time of the race was 1:54.2. Demeter N was third.

BIRCH ISLAND BETTY REPLAY

It was the third win this year for the seven-year-old mare by Big Jim. She is trained by Eve Bergeron for owner Dany Grenier of Quebec and paid $4.10 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink