Dewhurst trainee having sensational summer

JK Panache (Art Major) has become the new force in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The Dave Dewhurst-trained six year old is having a sensational summer and continued his winning ways in Saturday night's $18,000 harness racing feature.

Assigned post position eight after winning all three of his starts in the local Open this summer, JK Panache raced parked out as reinsman Wally Hennessey motored the 7-5 favorite out early. He continued to plug away before finally putting away the race's front runner JD's Caleb Man (Billy Dobson) in the final sixteenth of the mile. JK Panache paced 1:52 in the Saturday score to complete his local grand slam. JD's Caleb Man dug in for second while Burkentine Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) followed the winner's cover to finish third.

JK Panache, who matched the all-age track record at Vernon Downs back in July, has local wins clocked in 1:50.2 and 1:50.1 this summer as Saratoga's most recent pacing star.

He returned $4.90 to win on Saturday and led an exacta that paid $46.20 and triple that came back $103.50. It was victory number nine for JK Panache in 23 seasonal tries.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05pm.

Mike Sardella