Bro endured some difficult trips in the two legs of the Gary Kamal Memorial Pacing Series at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Homer Hochstetler-trained pacer drew the rail in Saturday’s $35,200 series final and the three-year-old’s journey wound up being a bit smoother.
Driver Jay Randall powered Bro out to the early lead in the final, getting the sophomore to the top in a :28.1 first quarter.
After pacing the half in 57 seconds, Bro was confronted by the race’s favourite and series star, Mister Miami (Claude Huckabone III), who had the daunting task of trying to reel in his major danger via the first-over journey. The trip proved too difficult for odds-on favourite Mister Miami as Bro dispatched him around the final turn.
Pocket-sitter SB Angelindisguise (Mark Beckwith) took his shot in the passing lane as two-leg winner Sweet Deisel (Dan Daley) shook loose in the stretch. Sweet Deisel came on to be second while SB Angelindisguise had to settle for third.
For Bro, it was the second victory in a $35,000+ race in the last six weeks as the Rock N Roll Heaven colt scored in the New York Sire Stakes Consolation Final contested at Vernon Downs last month.
Bro, who paid $6 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $31 and $123, respectively, is owned by Jay Hochstetler and the Finkelburg Racing Stable.
Randall’s win behind Bro was one of three on the night for the veteran reinsman.
Bro adds his name to the list of previous winners of the Kamal Pace, which consists of Twin B Spy, Bell I No, Stirling Electra, Carolina Beach and Kiwi Tintin N.
The $17,500 Consolation of the Kamal Memorial Pace contested on Saturday went to The Great Buzz N (by Auckland Reactor) as the Paul Zabielski trainee went coast-to-coast in 1:54.4.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee starting at 12 Noon. There is a $1,134 carryover in the Pick Five pool with the Pick Five beginning in race one.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)