Moonshine Kisses too tough, Beckwith wins 5 again

Moonshine Kisses (Sunshine Beach) posted the fastest mile of the harness racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night (May 18) as the Jackie Greene-trained pacer overcame post eight to win the evening’s feature. Meanwhile, driver Brett Beckwith continued his winning ways, scoring five victories on the night.

The eight-year-old Moonshine Kisses is coming off a 2023 campaign that saw him earn more than $265,000 by winning fifteen victories following a ’22 season in which he was named the track’s Pacer of the Year.

Returning from a stint out of town, Moonshine Kisses came to the Spa where he won his previous local try on March 30th. On Saturday, the Greene trainee was assigned post position eight and left a bit at the start to find a spot sitting mid-pack just off the early speed.

The speed was hot in the $15,000 Open Pace and after first-half fractions of :26.4 and :55 seconds were posted in lap one, Moonshine Kisses made his move approaching the three-quarter pole. When Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey tipped him, he meant business powering past his rivals before opening up an insurmountable lead.

The standout pacer stopped the timer in 1:51.2, the fastest mile of the season thus far at Saratoga. Pace N Pride N (Brett Beckwith) was the runner-up in the Open while pacesetting The Bird Dance N (Phil Fluet) held on to finish third.

MOONSHINE KISSES REPLAY

The victory for the heavily favored Moonshine Kisses was his third of the season and gave Jackie Greene her second winner on the night. The superstar Open winner is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables LLC of Queensbury, NY.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a post time of noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway