An invader making his local debut won Saturday’s (Dec. 3) Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jared Bako-trained Lous Sweetrevenge came in off close to a month layoff and drew post six for his first try in the $16,000 Open at the Spa.

Leon Bailey picked up the catch drive behind Lous Sweetrevenge and sat patiently in the early going as last week’s Open winner Nuttin But Finesse carved first-half fractions of :27.4 and :58.2. Co-favoured at odds of 5-2, Lous Sweetrevenge picked up cover and tipped off that cover heading to the three-quarter pole. In the meantime, the co-favourite Moonshine Kisses began to rev up his engine after getting away last in the eight-horse feature. Moonshine Kisses was still seventh at the top of the stretch as Lous Sweetrevenge began to wear down the leader in progress to a 1:55 victory over a track labeled "sloppy." Moonshine Kisses came up second-best for the second straight week in the Open while Nuttin But Finesse held on for third.

The winner paid $7.40 and led an exacta and triple that returned $33.80 and $135, respectively. Lous Sweetrevenge, who is owned by Lady I Racing of Bonita Springs, Florida, moved his career earnings to over the $400,000 mark with Saturday’s win, which was his ninth of the season.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 4) at Saratoga with a first post time set for 12 p.m. (EST).

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)