Lake Charles won the $15,000 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday (Feb. 12).
The Amanda Kelley trainee found himself in a four-horse Open on Saturday night. Driver Leon Bailey sat behind the five-year-old who wound up powering past former Saratoga Pacer of the Year Crockets Cullen N in the early going. The Kelley trainee sizzled through a first quarter of :26.4 before reaching the half in :56.4. Favoured Hudson Phil, defending champ of the Open, revved the engine late in the mile, but did just enough to come up second-best to Lake Charles in a 1:54.3 mile.
Lake Charles, a winner by 2-1/4 lengths, returned $7.50 to win and led an exacta with the favorite second that paid $11.60. Crockets Cullen N finished third. The winner is owned by the Scheigert Racing Stable of Saratoga Springs.
Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon (Feb. 14) with a matinee starting at 12 p.m. (EST).
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)