The track’s defending Horse of the Year made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon.

The Kyle Spagnola-trained Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) was named the top horse of 2019 at the Spa but has spent much of his ’20 campaign traveling to other tracks to compete. The winner of a local Open back in March and another in June, Cash Me Out had post eight in the $10,000 co-feature on Monday.

Phil Fluet piloted the superstar trotter and marched him out early before making it to the top in a first quarter in :27.4. After cruising through a half in :56.2 without a challenge, Cash Me Out then clicked off three quarters in 1:25.4. Never facing an anxious moment, Cash Me Out drew away to win by three lengths in 1:55.2. Stone In Love (Brian Cross) came from the back of the pack to finish second while Shake A Leg (Jay Randall) earned the show spot.

It was the second straight score in the local Open Trot for Spagnola and Fluet who teamed up for a victory with Waiting On A Woman in last Monday’s (Nov 2) Open. Cash Me Out is owned by Mike Traylor of Ballston Spa, NY. Cash Me Out paid $5.10 to win.

The second half of the Monday double feature went the way of Olde Broadside (American Ideal). The Linda Flynn trainee won his first ever Open last month and following a pair of fourth-place finishes was dismissed at odds of 10-1 in Monday’s instalment of the $10,000 Open Pace.

Alek Chartrand sat back patiently with Olde Broadside as the race’s favourite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) set sizzling fractions on the engine. After the half was served up in a :55-second clip, Olde Broadside made his move heading to the three-quarter pole. The leader tired and the closers began to thrive.

Olde Broadside charged hard to draw away by better than two lengths, stopping the timer in 1:52.2. Longshot Blaise MM Hanover (Jimmy Devaux) finished second while Artful Way (Billy Dobson) came on to be third.

Olde Broadside, who has now accounted for both of Chartrand’s career Open wins, set a lifetime mark on a beautiful autumn afternoon in Saratoga. The Open winner is owned by Francis Morse of Schuylerville, NY. Olde Broadside paid $22.20 to win.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a first post set for 12 p.m.

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)