Ex-New Zealand pacer causes upset

At odds of just 5-1, Slip The Hundy N (Lincoln Royal) was the longest shot on the board in the Saturday night harness racing feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The Rob Harmon trainee was making his debut in the local $15,000 Open Pace when he started from post position two following a scratch.

In the field of five, Slip The Hundy N was aggressively moved out to the early lead by driver Jay Randall who had piloted the seven year old Harmon trainee to his previous victory when competing at Plainridge Park last month.

Slip The Hundy N rattled off fast first-half fractions of 26.3 and 56.1 before being met with a challenge from rival Little Willy (Brett Beckwith). Slip The Hundy N dug in when threatened and checked in at three quarters in 1:24.4 before being confronted late by last week’s Open winner, the race’s favorite Pickup Man Hanover (Wally Hennessey).

That one’s surge saw him come up second-best as Slip The Hundy N would not be denied, stopping the timer in 1:53.2 for his first victory in the local Open. Pickup Man Hanover was the runner-up for the third time in his last five tries in the Saturday feature while Little Willy rounded out the trifecta.

SLIP THE HUNDY N REPLAY

Slip The Hundy N paid $12.80 to win as the “longshot” in the Open and led an exacta and triple that returned $47 and $113, respectively. Slip The Hundy N is owned by Mike Casalino Jr. of Freehold, NJ. Live racing continues on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway