Memorynimagination won the $22,602 Open Handicap Trot at Saratoga Raceway on Monday, Feb. 16.
Memorynimagination secured his first victory in the local Open Trot late last year before wrapping up his season with a third-place finish in the Open. To begin his 2026 campaign, the Jimmy Nickerson-trained trotter finished third in each of his first two starts back in the top trot before being assigned post position six in Monday’s eight-horse field.
Changing tactics from his past closing tendencies, Memorynimagination flashed early speed on Monday for driver Matt Athearn and moved out to the front in a first quarter that went in :28 before reaching the half in 58 seconds. Taking on a few challengers in the final half proved to be no problem for the five-year-old gelding as he had plenty left in the stretch to hold off the pocket-sitting favourite, Ordained (Larry Stalbaum), to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.2. Ordained was the runner-up for the second time in his three local starts this season while Up Helly Aa (Chris Long) stayed sharp while finishing third.
Memorynimagination, an eight-time winner in 2025, paid $10.04 to win in his first score of ’26. Athearn piloted the Father Patrick-Fellowship Of Two gelding to the Open victory for owner Joseph Trice of Hampden, Maine.
Live harnress racing continues on Tuesday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)