Jaymes Mcassey stole the show at Saratoga

Saratoga Casino Hotel hosted a special Friday (June 7) evening harness racing card due to the historic Belmont Stakes across the street at the flat track and trainer Jaymes Mcassey stole the show with four winners.

Mcassey harnessed six entries for the evening card, meeting four in the winner’s circle in addition to a third and fourth place finish.

Ronaldo N (Alta Christiano – Heavenly Bliss) and driver Wally Hennessey were the first up to the plate in a $7,250 conditioned pace, winning every step of the mile en route to a three-quarter length score in 1:53.3.

Delpozo Scwartz Paoleti LLC owns the eight-year-old gelding. He returned $3.50 to win.

RONALDO N REPLAY

Heart Of Rock (Pet Rock – All Heart Gal) will Hennessey aboard doubled the score as a gate-to-wire victor by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3 in the $9,500 conditioned pace. Michael Milazzo owns the five-year-old gelding. As the even odds favorite, he returned $4.00 to win.

HEART OF ROCK REPLAY

Following a similar trip to his stablemates, Mixed Emotion (Real Desire – Campside Angel) and driver Jordan Derue led his class of eight in the claiming pace worth $6,000 throughout the mile to go on to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Olivia Derue, Anthony Ciuffetelli, Fbp Racing Stable LLC, and Kaplideo Singh co-own the four-year-old gelding. He returned $7.30 as the 3-1 second choice.

MIXED EMOTION REPLAY

Completing the quartet of triumphs and the evening card action, American Rebel (American Ideal – Restive Hanover) and driver Billy Dobson won the $5,000 conditioned pace wire-to-wire by three quarters of a length in 1:57.3. William Emmons owns the seven-year-old. He paid $3.00 to win.

AMERICAN REBEL REPLAY

Ahi Sunshine (Sunshine Beach – Racey Miss) prevailed in the $15,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot with Hennessey in the bike for trainer Jackie Greene.

The Bird Dance N and driver Chris Long set up as the pacesetter for the mile while Hennessey and Ahi Sunshine took back to fifth. After the opening mark in :26.2, Hennessey tugged on his right line and sent Ahi Sunshine first over.

Chipping away at the lead through fractions in :56 and 1:24.1, Ahi Sunshine took over the control of the timer from the outside before the three-quarter pole. With a :28.2 last quarter, Ahi Sunshine rolled home to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3. Heaven On High N (Larry Stalbaum) followed his cover to take second and Little Willy (Brett Beckwith) used a third over journey to take the show spot.

Janie Kellogg owns the four-year-old. Ahi Sunshine notched his fifth win of the season in 14 starts and moved his career record to 12-7-3 from 43 starts, summing a total of $147,052. He paid $8.10 as the 3-1 second choice on the board.

AHI SUNSHINE REPLAY

As the festivities continue for the third leg of the thoroughbred Triple Crown in Saratoga Springs, racing at the Saratoga harness track resumes on Saturday (June 8) with a 5 p.m. first post time. There is no Sunday matinee card this week and the final day of racing for the weekend will take place on Monday, June 10 with a 12 p.m. first post.

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

by Jessica Hallett, for Saratoga Raceway