A retirement ceremony preceded the Sunday, Dec. 10 afternoon card at Saratoga Casino Hotel as five veteran racehorses were honoured with a walk down the Saratoga stretch and a blanket presentation in the winner's circle.
Duluth was the first to embark on the track for the final time in his career. The 14-year-old gelding trotter was driven by Barry Segal in a four-wheeled cart towards his ceremony. A son of Chocolatier-Minnesota Karen, Duluth has had a career of 20 wins, 31 seconds and 32 thirds with $276,828 earned over 229 starts. He took his career mark of 1:55.2 at The Meadowlands as a nine-year-old. His final start was taken at Saratoga on Nov. 2 of 2020. He was trained by Cynthia Milano for the majority of his career. Duluth was adopted by the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program, a 501(c)3 organization, which seeks to ensure that retired Standardbred horses find a second career after racing.
Warrawee Nonsuch followed second in line and under saddle. Emily Gingrich held the reins for trainer and owner Jaymes Mcassey. The 14-year-old Jeremes Jet-Armbro Wisdom pacing gelding had a record of 47-44-34 in 250 starts with $348,763 banked. He took his mark of 1:51.1 at the age of eight at Plainridge Park. Warrawee Nonsuch made his last career start on Nov. 18 of this year at Saratoga. His retirement plans include continuing as a riding horse under the care of Gingrich.
Darron Hall (pictured above), a 14-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall and the Credit Winner mare Highwaytoheaven, is owned and trained by Frank Multari. The veteran trotter made 316 starts with a record of 40-46-44 and $283,455 earned. At the age of six, he took his career mark of 1:55.4 at Northfield Park. Driven down the stretch by Paul Dudka, Darron Hall was met by his new connections in the winner's circle. Under the care of Dr. Julie Cornell, Darron Hall heads towards a future in farm life after his final start on Sunday.
Mavericks Luck was walked down the stretch by trainer Clyde Jasinski. A son of Western Maverick-Yukon Blues, the 14-year-old gelding pacer raced the majority of his 344 starts at the Spa. He won 20 races and had 29 seconds and 41 thirds. Owned by Cxj Racing, Mavericks Luck earned $160,171 over his career and took his career-best time at nine in 1:55.1 at Saratoga. His final career start was taken at Saratoga on July 8, 2023 and he continues to spend his time under the care of Jasinski.
Retirement festivities concluded with the final walk by No Recess, Sietske Spagnola and trainer Kyle Spagnola. Spagnola Racing LLC owns the 14-year-old Rich Boy-Riann Photo gelding. After his career ended in November of 2020, No Recess sported 245 career starts with a record of 58-37-38 and $322,302 in earnings. His 1:53.3 career mark was taken at the age of eight at The Meadowlands. No Recess will continue to live out his retirement at the Spagnola Farm as a riding horse.
Saratoga Casino Hotel would like to congratulate all of Sunday's honourees, their caretakers, trainers, owners and connections on their retirement.
All of the photos from the retirement ceremony can be found here.
Mommas A Diva Takes Meyer Series Title
Mommas A Diva won the biggest race of her young career during Sunday's card. The Evan Hoagland-trained filly drew the rail for her try in the $21,400 Bullet Bob Meyer Memorial Trotting Series final, which served as the afternoon's feature.
The sophomore International Moni filly was a second-place finisher in the second leg of the series after prevailing in leg one. On Sunday, she went off at odds of 4-1 with Mitch Cushing in the sulky.
Mommas A Diva made every pole a winning one in the series final, fending off steady pressure from the race’s favourite, who went first-over on the eventual winner. Mommas A Diva seemed to tire some in the stretch but had enough to hold off late challenges from Be Different (Jimmy Devaux), who wound up as the runner-up, and longshot Notoutofthewoods (Mark Whitcroft), who earned the show spot. The winning time was 2:00.3 over the sloppy track.
Mommas A Diva has now finished first or second in seven consecutive races en route to more than $40,000 in earnings in 2023. The winner is owned by Hoagland Racing LLC of Whitehall, New York.
Mommas A Diva paid $10.60 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $39 and $341, respectively.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)