Sports Obsession made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday (June 28) to compete in the $14,000 Open Pace a winning one.

The Jimmy Nickerson-trained pacer raced at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts for the last month after a strong stint at "The Spa" in which he had a first, a second and a third in three tries in the local feature.

On Monday, Sports Obsession drew post 4 and driver Jimmy Devaux powered the 4-year-old to the early lead. The Nickerson trainee sizzled on the engine, hitting the quarter in :26.3 before reaching the half in :55.4. The race’s 1-5 favourite put in his bid first-over but never got close to the leader before fading from the scene. Sports Obsession, off at odds of 9-1, clicked three-quarters in 1:24 before holding firm in the stretch to prevail in 1:53.1 and record his second win in the local Open this season.

Macheasy A sat the pocket to the winner and finished second while longshot Wyatt J closed to be third in the five-horse feature.

Sports Obsession paid $20.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $86 and $343, respectively. He boosted his career earnings to over the quarter-million-dollar mark for owner Joseph Trice of Hampden, ME. The final four races on Monday’s card were canceled.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon (June 29) at Saratoga with a first-race post time set for 12 p.m. (EDT).

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)