Slugfest made his return to the winner’s circle on Sunday at Saratoga Casino and Raceway after a victory in the afternoon's $15,000 Open Handicap Trot.

The two-time defending Trotter of the Year at the Spa began his season with a third and a second-place finish in the $15,000 Open Trot, but he rediscovered his winning ways on Sunday afternoon.

Jay Randall has been the regular reinsman for the Maureen Salino trainee and, after leaving to get away third in the early going, moved first over with the local trotting star. Slugfest breezed by the race’s favourite Cash Me Out (Jim Devaux) before opening up a commanding lead and stopping the timer in 2:02.4 in the 1-1/16 mile feature. Slugfest returned $7.50 to win in what was the 30th victory in the career of the seven-year-old high-stepper. Longshot Lucid Thoughts (Shawn Gray) closed to be second in the Open while Daylon Miracle (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot in her first start of the season.

Slugfest is looking to become the first horse in track history to earn three Trotter of the Year awards and is off to another strong start to the season.

The homebred Conway Hall gelding is owned by Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico.

(With files from Saratoga Raceway)