Stalbaum enjoys weekend at the Spa

Harness racing trainer-driver Larry Stalbaum won the Saturday night feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel with his Heaven On High N. On Sunday (June 23), Stalbaum saw his Malibu Kid (Wishing Stone) start from post position five in the $15,000 Open Trot while looking to have his trainees win back-to-back Opens.

Malibu Kid came into Sunday’s try with just one win in 2024, although the victory did come in the local Open back in February. The six-year-old high-stepper has been a solid factor in the regular Sunday feature over the course of the last few months and finished second or third in five of his six starts leading up to this weekend’s try.

Stalbaum made an early move with Malibu Kid who made it to the top before rattling off matching panels of 29.1 in lap one en route to clicking off a half in 58.2. The leader never faced a challenge until the race’s favorite Remember Titans (Brett Beckwith) revved up his motor late in the mile and powered up while looking to confront Malibu Kid.

The pursuit proved to be futile as the Stalbaum trainee dug in and rebuffed the favorite en route to a 1:56.4 score. Remember Titans, the 8-5 betting favorite in the feature, came up second-best while longshot Wishing Barefoot (Brian Cross) earned the show spot.

MALIBU KID REPLAY

Malibu Kid paid $8.70 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $25.60 and $78.50, respectively. Stalbaum’s victory in the Open Trot is his second in June as his Big Box Hanover prevailed in a Sunday feature earlier in the month. Both Malibu Kid and the Saturday Open winner Heaven On High N are owned by the Shark Racing Stable of Bainbridge, NY.

Live racing continues at Saratoga on Monday afternoon when there will be a 17-race matinee featuring the NY Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. First post time for Monday is set for noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway