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Hot Joe (Roll With Joe) completed a harness racing series sweep of the Charlie Hoffman Pace on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel when he came from off the pace to prevail for the third consecutive week.
Joe Nassimos trains the Vernon Downs-based pacer who owned just one win in 2024 before the launch of the annual Charlie Hoffman Pacing Series in late November. Hot Joe sprung the upset in leg one going coast-to-coast in a series’ best 1:54.4 doing so at odds of 22-1 before repeating as the even-money favorite in leg two last weekend (November 30).
In Saturday’s $24,100 Final, Hot Joe was forced to come from off the pace and driver Leon Bailey sat back patiently in lap one with the six year old who came away sixth in an opening quarter that went in 27.1 on a chilly December night. As the leaders began to tire, Quagmire Bluechip (Chris Long) took command at the three-quarter pole while Hot Joe followed that one’s cover and longshot Yamaka converged on that tandem from the back of the pack.
Hot Joe took over the lead at the head of the stretch and held off the bid from 47-1 shot Yamaka en route to a 1:55.1 score to complete the series sweep. Hot Joe paid $9.70 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $266.50 and $1001 (for $2 wagers), respectively.
HOT JOE REPLAY
The series winner is owned by Jc’s Get R Done Stable of Buffalo, NY. Leon Bailey, the 2024 driving champion at Vernon Downs, piloted four winners on the Saturday evening card.
The Charlie Hoffman Pacing Series began eight years ago recognizing the longtime employee of the track who worked in the mutuel department for more than six decades! Hoffman, at the age of 101, was in attendance on Saturday night for a presentation in the winner’s circle to the victor of the series named in his honor. Hoffman is the longest ever employee of the track and was joined by friends and former co-workers to greet Hot Joe and his connections with his well-known smile and quick wit. Charlie Hoffman, truly a Saratoga treasure.
Live racing continues on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12pm.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway
