Hudson Phil has been one of the top pacers at Saratoga Casino Hotel over the past couple of seasons, and on Tuesday (June 1) he added to those totals.

The Jackie Greene trainee was one of the top two winningest horses in the Open Pace in the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, but the six-year-old has split his time between Saratoga and tracks out of town. On Tuesday, Hudson Phil drew the outside post in the $10,500 feature for pacers one week after he scored an impressive victory in 1:52.

Leading driver Billy Dobson sat behind Hudson Phil and took him back early. Getting away last as the race’s 2-1 co-favourite, Hudson Phil reaped the benefits of first-half fractions of :26.4 and :56 seconds. The Greene trainee then made his move heading to the three-quarter pole as Dobson fanned him to the far outside. The longtime Open star completed his back-to-back jacks behind a three-wide move which saw him score in 1:53.

The victory was his second straight and third on the season. American Zest A (Larry Stalbaum) was the runner-up to Hudson Phil for the second consecutive week while No Ordinary Man (Phil Fluet) closed to finish third. The win for Hudson Phil, who is owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables of Queensbury, N.Y., was the 30th of his career in just 101 lifetime starts with earnings approaching the half million mark.

Live harness racing continues on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga with three-year-old pacing fillies taking centre stage as part of the New York Sire Stakes. First post is set for 12:00 p.m.

(Saratoga)