Trainer Dale Lawton scored a pair of upsets on the Monday, Dec. 2 matinee card at Saratoga Casino Hotel that included Rocknroll Shelli's surprise victory in the featured $14,085 fillies and mares conditioned pace.
The six-year-old A Rocknroll Dance mare was aggressively piloted to the lead by driver Leon Bailey, who wanted the front-end at all costs with the 36-1 longshot. Rocknroll Shelli rebuffed several challenges before stepping away to win in 1:56.1 by 2-3/4 lengths, producing a $74 win payout for the upset. Rocknroll Shelli prevailed for the third time this season in 35 starts for Dale Lawton, who shares ownership with Chris Lawton.
The Lawtons also scored with their freshman pacing filly Wayward Blue Chip, a wire-to-wire upset winner in the afternoon’s opener. A recent newcomer to the Lawton stable, the daughter of Tall Dark Stranger was piloted by Jimmy Devaux, who pointed her out to the lead in a $10,563 race for young filly and mare pacers. She held on to prevail in 1:59.3 by three-quarters of a length against older foes in what was her second victory from nine starts, paying $63 for the upset.
Leading driver Brett Beckwith, who is putting the finishing touches on what will be his first driving title at Saratoga, piloted five winners on the 12-race card.
Live harness racing continues on Tuesday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)