In what has been a dominant first two months to the racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel for Brett Beckwith, the young reinsman added another five-win day to his tally on Sunday afternoon, April 7.
The 21-year-old Beckwith is taking a run at his first driving title and if the early portion of the season is a big-time indicator, he could be en route to an historic 2024 campaign. Beckwith followed up a five-win Saturday card with another one on Sunday. His big afternoon included four consecutive victories, one being in the featured $20,270 Open Handicap Trot when Beckwith piloted the Jackie Greene-trained Snowpiercer.
The four-year-old trotter by Muscle Mass made his first appearance in the Spa's Open last week (April 1) when he finished third. In Sunday’s installment of the top class, Beckwith found early placing for Snowpiercer in third after leaving from post position six. From there, the trotter saved ground on the rail throughout, and when the rail opened up, Snowpiercer surged in the stretch to win by a neck in a mile clocked in 1:57.1. The upset came at odds of 11-1 for Snowpiercer, who gave Beckwith his third of what would be five winners on the matinee card.
The 9-5 betting favourite, Discus Hanover (Jimmy Devaux), was the runner-up to Snowpiercer while Summit City Sonny (Matt Athearn), last week’s Open winner, earned the show spot this time out. Snowpiercer led an exacta and triple that paid $92.50 and $387, respectively.
Snowpiercer, a former Ontario Sires Stakes winner and career earner of more than a quarter-million dollars, is currently owned by Janie Kellogg of Fort Ann, New York.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)