Scott Mongeon needed just two wins to reach a career milestone coming into Sunday afternoon, Oct. 20 at Saratoga Casino Hotel, and he did just that, securing his 1,000th training victory on the sunny matinee card.
Mongeon got his first training win of the day in the $20,833 Open Handicap Trot with By The Book.
Jay Randall took the Chapter Seven-Explosive High gelding to the gate in post eight and they looped the field going right to the top. By The Book was caught outside in the lead at the quarter in :28.1, but quickly continued in command from the pylon position. He maintained his lead through the half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:27.2 before fending off Duckdodgendive (Matty Athearn) in the stretch to win by a half length in 1:56.3. Wania (Brett Beckwith) was third.
Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas and Tina Murray co-own the five-year-old gelding and winner of $284,393 in lifetime earnings. By The Book won his seventh race of the season in 14 starts and his 21st career victory from 64 starts. He paid $3.10 to win as the bettors' choice.
The sixth race feature was also named the Chuck Simon Memorial Trot, after popular horse racing enthusiast Chuck Simon, who passed away in early September after battling cancer. Simon was a Saratoga Springs native and worked in various capacities in horse racing from the Thoroughbred side to the tandardbred side. The winner's circle was filled with friends and family of Simon for a blanket ceremony in his memory.
Mongeon secured his second win of the day and his career milestone triumph with But Why in the $17,361 consolation of the Jim Derue Memorial Trotting Series.
Jim Devaux sent the Crazy Wow-Porque sophomore gelding from post five and they were caught on the outside at the :28.1 quarter in second. After the opening panel, Devaux moved But Why into the lead and there were no questions if he was the winner. He opened up by 1-1/2 lengths at the :57.4 half, then 1-3/4 lengths at the 1:27.2 three-quarters before romping home to score by six lengths in 1:57.4. Crazy Brother Jim (Chris Long) was second and Champain (Mickey McGivern) finished third.
Steven and Laura Stewart co-own But Why, a winner of three starts this year and four career starts. He paid $2.60 to win.
Scott Mongeon, a native of the Spa, has more than $5.7 million in career training earnings to go along with 1,000 wins. He has 1,798 driving wins and $7.26 million in career driving earnings. In 2023, Mongeon was inducted into the Saratoga Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Also on the card, in the $47,639 Jim Derue Memorial Trotting Series final, Doc Nixon pocketed the victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3 with Aaron Byron in the bike for Brianne Sinclair. Sinclair co-owns the Cantab Hall-Southwind Hope four-year-old gelding with Ashleigh Bailey and Amber Longo.
Racing at the Saratoga Springs oval resumes on Monday afternoon with a 12 p.m. first post time. This week is also the return of Tuesday afternoon racing at Saratoga with racing from Saturday through Tuesday taking place through the end of the meet in mid-December.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)