Three divisions Doc Frank Memorial held at Saratoga

Three divisions of the first leg of the Doc Frank Memorial Pacing Series served as co-features on the Saturday evening (April 20) harness racing card at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The first of the three $10,000 divisions went the way of Robyn Mangiardi’s Isle Coach (Corner Blitz) who held on to prevail for the second time in the last five days. Isle Coach came up a nose shy of prevailing in his Spa debut a couple weeks back but would not be denied on Tuesday when the four-year-old went wire-to-wire for his second win of the 2024 campaign.

On Saturday, Isle Coach again moved out to the early lead and had his way on the engine in the series’ first leg. The Mangiardi trainee had to dig in to hold off a late surge from the race’s favorite SG Summer’s Dream (Billy Dobson) and record his third victory of the season stopping the timer in 1:56.1, a time that tied for the fastest of the three divisions of the series.

Isle Coach extended his streak of finishing first or second to eight consecutive starts. Chris Long piloted Isle Coach to the Saturday score.

Long piloted his second series winner on the night when he sat behind Bruce’s VO N Coke (Huntsville) in the second division of the Doc Frank Memorial. Piloting for trainer John Berger, Long took Bruce’s VO N Coke back in the early going and sat well off the fast pace.

The three-year-old made his move in the backstretch to close in on the leaders before confronting and eventually passing the heavily favored King Kong (Brett Beckwithsophomore) who wound up finishing second to Bruce’s VO N Coke who paid $16.40 to win in his maiden victory. He is owned by Joseph Meaney of Crestwood, NY. The pair of series’ scores for Long were two of three winners on the card for the veteran reinsman.

The third and final division of the first leg contested on Saturday went the way of the big favorite. Youaremyrock (Boston Red Rocks) brought a four-race win streak into his $10,000 division of the series and driver Brett Beckwith wasted little time moving the 1-5 betting favorite to the early lead.

four-year-old cruised to a decisive, open-length score in a 1:56.1 clocking that matched Isle Coach for the fastest among leg one winners. Youaremyrock joined the Mark Beckwith stable earlier in the month and cameto town a winner of two straight. Following Saturday’s score, the streak sits at five for the pacer who is owned in partnership by Mark Beckwith and Rick Berks.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway