Reinsman Brett Beckwith has gotten his 2024 season off to a big start at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The 21-year-old rising star has powered out to a healthy lead in the early driver standings at the Spa, and on Monday, Feb. 19, he added four more wins to his bulky total including a victory in the feature race with Ontario-bred Busting With Pride.
A recent newcomer to the Saratoga scene, Busting With Pride went coast-to-coast in the afternoon’s featured $12,838 conditioned trot for trainer Jackie Greene. Busting With Pride made a break in his seasonal debut but has since gone back-to-back following a Monday romp that was a career-best 1:57.2 mile. Beckwith wasted very little time moving the 3-5 betting favourite to the top and, while a couple of rivals made breaks behind him, it appeared that Busting With Pride was much the best on Monday. Busting With Pride registered a nearly seven-length victory. Staghouse was second despite a late break in stride and Mommas A Diva completed the top three finish order.
Busting With Pride, a four-year-old Resolve gelding out of the Kadabra mare Bustingattheseams, is currently owned by Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene Stables of New York. The victory -- his sixth lifetime from 31 starts -- helped push his earnings over the $100,000 mark.
Live harness racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)