It took until the final stride to decide whether Slugfest (Jay Randall) or Cash Me Out (Jim Devaux) had prevailed in Sunday’s $15,000 Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Slugfest was on the front end in the 1-1/16 miles feature and the back-to-back Trotter of the Year at the track was met with the first over challenge of the favoured Cash Me Out. Those two top flight trotters slugged it out for better than a half-mile before Slugfest held off his rival by the slimmest of margins to win in 2:03 on a windy afternoon at the Spa.

The victory was the third of the season in the Open for the Maureen Salino-trained Slugfest, who was the public’s second choice in the wagering at odds of 8-5. Cash Me Out has now hit the board in four consecutive Sunday features at the Spa while Lucid Thoughts (Shawn Gray) earned the show spot.

Slugfest is a seven-year-old Conway Hall gelding, owned by Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico.

(With files from Sarartoga Casino Hotel)