Slugfest scored in the season’s final feature on Sunday afternoon (December 18) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The track’s Trotter of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 didn’t have quite the same kind of year in ’16, but the Maureen Salino trainee was still a solid threat this season.
In Sunday’s $18,000 Open Trot, Slugfest was guided first-over by his regular driver, Jay Randall, and cruised by his rivals to secure an open-length victory in 1:58.1 over the sloppy going. The favourite, Cash Me Out (Jim Devaux), won the place photo while a well-beaten second as Cincinnati Miss (Frank Coppola Jr.) came on to finish third.
The win was the sixth of the year for the seven-year-old Slugfest, who paid $10.70 to win. The Conway Hall gelding is owned by Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico.
Frank Coppola Jr. wrapped up his 11th driving title at Saratoga while Melissa Beckwith was the top trainer for the fourth time as the 2016 racing season concluded on Sunday at the Spa.
Live racing will return on Sunday, Feb. 19 with a matinee starting at 12:15 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga)