Crockets Cullen N took advantage of sizzling fractions in the Saturday, Aug. 31 feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel to win the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Hudson Phil showed speed as the favourite, leading the field to a :26.1 opening quarter and past a :54.1 half. Driver Larry Stalbaum sent Crockets Cullen N after the pacesetter moving to three-quarters and faced little difficulty when clearing the lead into the final turn. Military Master A tracked the closing move and narrowed on the new leader's lead but ultimately settled for second. Jersey Jim finished third.

The final time of 1:51.1 was just shy of the lifetime mark of 1:51 for Crockets Cullen N, who gave Stalbaum one of his three winners on the night. The New Zealand invader paid $9.50 to win and led an exacta that returned $119.50 while the triple paid $534. Stalbaum and Tarantino teamed for three winners on the card as their Lord Willoughby A and Itsonlyrocknroll A secured front-running victories on Saturday night.

Live racing resumes at Saratoga on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 4 with a matinee beginning at noon that features a Pick Five carryover of $4,043. The Pick Five begins in Race 1.

(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)