Zlatan looked to be home free when making his Saratoga Casino Hotel debut on opening weekend. The Melissa Beckwith trainee had a convincing lead around the final turn in that start when he made an untimely break.

Following a winning qualifier, Zlatan was back at it on Thursday afternoon. Mark Beckwith left with the five-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass and dropped into the pocket behind the race’s odds-on favourite CR Blazin Beauty (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) who was fresh off an open length win at Yonkers.

Zlatan cruised past the favourite in the stretch to prevail in 1:58 in the $6,000 trotting event for winners of two but not more than five lifetime races. CR Blazin Beauty had to settle for second, while longshot Anja (Jim Devaux) earned the show spot.

Zlatan paid $10.20 for the win.

Live racing continues on Friday evening with a 6:45 p.m. first post.