Three divisions of the first leg of the Doc Frank Memorial Pacing Series served as co-features on the Saturday, April 20 evening card at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The first of the three $13,699 divisions went the way of Robyn Mangiardi’s recently aquired Isle Coach, 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 afternoon when the four-year-old Corner Blitz gelding 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 favourite, SG Summers Dream (Billy Dobson), and recorded 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, who returned $5.70 to win.
Long piloted his second series winner on the night when he sat behind Bruces VO N Coke in the second division of the Doc Frank Memorial.
Piloting for trainer John Berger, Long took Bruces VO N Coke back in the early going and sat well off the fast pace. The three-year-old Huntsville gelding made his move in the backstretch to close in on the leaders before confronting and eventually passing the heavily favoured King Kong (Brett Beckwith), who wound up finishing second.
Bruces VO N Coke paid $16.40 to win for his maiden victory. The sophomore is owned by Joseph Meaney of Crestwood, New York.
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 favourite.
Youaremyrock brought a four-race win streak into his division of the series and driver Brett Beckwith wasted little time moving the 1-5 betting favourite to the early lead. The four-year-old Boston Red Rocks gelding 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 came to 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. He paid $2.40 to win.
Live harness racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)