Following a third-place finish in his return to the $24,656 feature last week, Ordained started from post four in Monday’s installment of the Open Trot en route to victory on Monday, May 11 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Billy Dobson took back in the early going and Ordained got away fourth in the six-horse feature. In what was developing as a closer’s race after first-half fractions of :26.4 and :56 seconds were posted, Ordained made his move approaching the three-quarter pole and was up to confront the race’s favourite Morning Edition (Wally Hennessey) who took over the lead at three-quarters. Ordained tracked that one down in the stretch coming on late to register his third win of the season and second in the Open since coming to town last fall. Morning Edition was the runner-up in the feature for the second consecutive week while But Why (Jimmy Devaux) lengthened his “on the board” streak by coming on to finish third.

Ordained, who went off at odds of 7-2, is owned by Gary and Tracey Smith of Bainbridge, NY. Trained by Larry Stalbaum, the six-year-old Father Patrick-Chic Chick gelding has won 15 times for his career, banking $617,493 lifetime.

Live racing continues on Tuesday (May 12) with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.  

(With files from Saratoga Raceway)