Saratoga honors 2023 leading performers

The Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association hosted their annual banquet on Saturday (Jan. 27) evening to honor the leading harness racing performers, both equine and human, in 2023.

Primo Uomo (Heston Blue Chip-Primadonna), owned by Chris and Dale Lawton, won the award for Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year. Trained by David Dewhurst, the four-year-old gelding had a record of 12-2-1 from 19 starts at the Saratoga Springs oval in 2023, accumulating $90,327 in earnings.

Dewhurst doubled up in awards, winning the Three-Year-Old Trotter of the Year award with City Of Hope (Mets Hall-Doin The City). Owned by Philip Hale and Dewhurst, the four-year-old gelding had 19 starts at Saratoga with a record of 10-2-3 and $90,894 earned.

Bungalow Bill N (Bettors Delight-Strawberry Fields) won the Claiming Pacer of the Year award for trainer Lisa Zabielski and owners Ray Lasky, Andrew Harris, Joseph Krong, and Zachary Gugliemelli. The 13-year-old gelding made 33 trips to the track over the season and took home six wins, nine seconds, and six thirds. His total purse earnings for 2023 amounted to $62,700.

Brett Derue doubled up in hardware with American Tour N (American Ideal-Armainapocket N) as Claiming Mare of the Year for her 12-6-5 record and $120,000 from 40 starts for owner Stephen Picarazzi and Derue as well as Mr Cool Seaeyre N (The Pres-Viola Chola) for his record of 9-6-3 and $88,269 earned from 26 starts for owners Picarazzi, Derue, and Darreyl Bullard.

Uncle Jord A (Rock N Roll Heaven-Serenas Delight) won the Pacer of the Year award for trainer Alicia Gray and owner Douglas Overhiser. The nine-year-old gelding earned a record of 4-6-2 in 22 starts with $67,949 earned.

Pay Me To Knight (Conway Hall-Pay Up Now) won Trotter of the Year with 11-1-4 from 29 starts and $85,401 earned. Doug Maura trained and drove the six-year-old gelding for owner Louis Maura.

Always Watching (Hes Watching-Ravishmasterpiece) was awarded as both the Mare of the Year and Horse of the Year. Owned, trained, and driven by Jordan Derue, the six-year-old mare posted a record of 10-4-5 from 24 starts with $107,891 banked.

Brett Derue was honored as Trainer of the Year at the banquet. Jim Devaux received his award at the conclusion of the season in the winner’s circle.

The Johnny Page Award for driver breakthrough went to Matty Athearn for his 89 wins and $1,006,924 in earnings from 846 starts. Jesse Mcassey won the Peerless McGrath Award for trainer breakthrough with 31 wins and $299,462 earned from 202 starts.

Brett Beckwith and Jim Devaux shared in the Horseman of the Year award while Robyn Mangiardi won the award for Horsewoman of the Year.

Three grooms were awarded as Groom Of The Year. Katie King and Frankie Fragomeni from the Lisa Zabielski Stable and Randi Stark from the Melissa Beckwith Stable.

As part of a new tradition of awards, the SHHA added 16 new categories to honor horsemen and horses for their season’s achievements.

Circuit Party won the Rising Star Award, highlighting his five win streak from July to August for trainer Dan Cappello and regular driver Wally Hennessey.

The Senior Citizen Award was shared by veteran pacer Warrawee Nonsuch, trained and owned by Jaymes Mcassey, and veteran trotter Darron Hall, trained and owned by Frank Multari.

Horses that dominated in the “2×5” division, the winners of two not more than five races, were awarded as Kill A Dragon (trained by Jackie Greene) in the pacing division, Makin No Bakin (trained by Phil Fluet) in the trotting division, and Mini Rose (trained by Brett Derue) in the mares division.

Trump De Vie won an award for most consecutive wins, winning seven in a row for trainer Jackie Cantine and owners Jeff Cantine and Sandra Shein. American Tour N won for the most wins at Saratoga with 12 wins in one season. Bungalow Bill N won for most number of claims with six claims over the season.

John Stark, Jr. won both the Hardest Working Trainer award and the All-In-One Award as owner, trainer, and driver. Paul O’Neil won as the Owner Most Dedicated to Saratoga Harness.

Jimble Kimble, trained by John Hallett for owners John and Jessica Hallett, was voted as the Fan Favorite Horse at Saratoga.

Gary Levine was the recipient of the award for “Most Eight-Holes” in 2023.

Mitchell Cushing won the award for Most Unique Performance by a Driver.

Finally, Jessica Hallett was awarded with the Most Dedicated to Harness Racing award for her contributions to Saratoga as track photographer.

Saratoga Casino Hotel kicks off the 2024 season on Saturday, Feb. 3. Racing at the Spa follows a Saturday through Tuesday schedule with a first post of 5 p.m. on Saturday evenings and 12 p.m. post for Sunday through Tuesday matinee cards.

by Jessica Hallett, for the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association