After winning the Winners Over last week, Hunter Hill stepped up to the top class on Saturday, April 4 at Saratoga Casino Hotel and sprung the upset in the (Somebeachsomewhere) sprung the upset in the $22,917 Open Pace. 

 Leon Bailey fired Hunter Hill off the gate from post five and powered up to take the early lead. Setting fractions of :27.3 and :57 in lap one, Hunter Hill fought a first-over Belmont Royale N (Aaron Byron) to three quarters in 1:25.1. That battle was brought into the stretch where Hunter Hill held firm and scored his first ever victory in the local Open, stopping the timer in 1:53.3 to record the upset at odds of 13-1. Belmont Royale N was a strong second while the favourite Blazing Home N (Tony Morgan) earned the show spot as the race’s 4-5 public choice. 

Hunter Hill’s win was his fourth of the year and the 40th in his career. Scott West of Rockwood, Ont. owns and trains the nine-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere - Ali Blue, who now sports $377,638 in career earnings.

Live harness racing resumes on Monday, April 6 with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m. 

(with files from Saratoga)