Five-year-old trotter CrazyCat (by Crazed) is in the midst of a breakout season, and on Sunday (April 8) he won the Open Trot for the second consecutive time at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Bruce Aldrich Jr. co-owns CrazyCat and sat behind him on Sunday. The duo got away fourth in the $12,000 feature as the track’s defending trotter of the year, Twisted Pretzel (driven by Jim Devaux), was on the front-end and cruised along with leisurely fractions.
After having trotted to the opening half-mile marker in :58.2, Twisted Pretzel was met with the challenge of the favoured Cash Me Out (Mark Beckwith). The leader rebuffed the first-over bid, but it was CrazyCat who would wind up charging down the centre of the track in the stretch to win it all in 1:56.3.
The victory was the second straight in the local Open for the Jose Godinez trainee. Twisted Pretzel finished second, while Cash Me Out earned the show spot.
CrazyCat, who pulled off a mild upset, paid $9.10 to win. The exactor and triactor returned $38.40 and $97.50, respectively.
Live racing at Saratoga will resume on Thursday afternoon (April 12) with a matinee that will begin at 12:15p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)