Trainer and driver goes three for three at Saratoga

Trainer Robyn Mangiardi sent three horses to the track on Sunday (Oct. 29) at Saratoga Casino Hotel and all three returned to the winner’s circle as victors in their respective harness racing classes.

Chris Long, having just crested a 4,000 win milestone, piloted each of the triad to victory.

In the $10,150 condition class, Century Invader (Resolve) won every panel in :29.1, :59, and 1:28.3 before hanging onto the win at the wire by a neck in 1:58.4. Snowpiercer (Matthew Athearn) finished second and Tranquility K (Jim Devaux) was third.

Leann Simek owns the four-year-old gelding. Century Invader paid $6.50 to win from 2-1 odds.

CENTURY INVADER REPLAY

My Mind Is Madeup (Mister Big) got away third in the condition pace worth $5,000 before taking command of the field. Long and the Mangiardi pupil won by three-quarters of a length at the wire in 1:56.3 over Delightful Joe (Devaux) and Amour Cruiser (Brett Beckwith).

Mangiardi co-owns the 10-year-old gelding with Keith Foote. He paid $7.30 to win from 3-1 odds.

MY MIND IS MADEUP REPLAY

Conquest As closed out the card and Mangiardi’s training hat trick with a win in the $11,250 condition nightcap. The six-year-old gelding rode the pocket trip before going on to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:58 over Southeater (Brian Cross) and Mr Contestant (Athearn).

Mangiardi owns Conquest As, who returned a $17.40 win ticket from 8-1 odds.

CONQUEST AS REPLAY

In the feature $39,600 Jim Derue Memorial Trot Final, Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow) went gate-to-wire through panels in :29.3, :59.4, and 1:28.2 before crossing the wire 1-1/2 lengths the best in 1:57.4. Las Vegas Hanover (Beckwith) finished second with Sevenatchi (Jay Randall) third.

James McNeight drove the three-year-old to victory for trainer Lisa Zabielski and owned James Palladino.

CRAZY RITZ REPLAY

Yo Cheyenne (Dover Dan) and Brett Beckwith took the $20,000 Jim Derue Memorial Trot Consolation by two-lengths in 1:58.3 for trainer Brett Derue, who co-owns the winner with Stephen Picarazzi. She paid $5.40 to win.

In the $16,050 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot, Pay Me To Knight (Conway Hall) fought from last to a first place finish by a neck at the wire in 1:57.3 with trainer Douglas Maura in the bike for owner Louis Maura. He paid $30.60 to win in the upset achievement.

Racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel resumes on Monday (Oct. 30) with a first post of 12 p.m.

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

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway