Slugfest sets up longshot in Open

Call it a slugfest, hardball, a dogfight, a street brawl, it does not matter to Record Year and driver Billy Dobson, who took advantage of an early harness racing speed duel to win the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace Saturday at Saratoga Raceway.

From the start of the 6^th race feature, it was a brawl as Mikibytheseaside and driver Jay Randall wanted the early lead, but Repeal Or Replace and driver Luke Hanners were not letting them get to the front.

Those two battled through the opening quarter mile in :27.2, then kept it going past the half mile in :56.1 and all the while sitting the two-hole trip was Record Year and Dobson.

Finally, after the half mile pole, Mikibytheseaside cleared to the lead and then at the three-quarters in 1:24.4 was when Dobson came first-over with Record Year and they came after the race leader.

By the top of the stretch, Record Year was within a half length of Mikibytheseaside and those two battled it out right to the finish with Record Year winning by a head in 1:53.2. Repeal Or Replace was third.

RECORD YEAR REPLAY

It was the second win this year for Record Year. The six-year-old gelding by Shadow Play went off at odds of 13-1 and paid $29.20 to win. He is trained by Jaymes McAssey for owner Greg Gardner of Michigan.

For complete race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink