Moonshine Kisses overcame the outermost post to land the victory in the $17,000 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night (Feb. 25).
Driver Jay Randall sat patiently in the early going with the Jackie Greene trainee and was content to get away last in the eight-horse feature. The fractions were fast. And as the closers started to make their move, Moonshine Kisses was looking a big time threat in the stretch. Randall unleashed the seven-year-old approaching the three-quarter pole and the star pacer took it from there. Moonshine Kisses overcame a deficit of more than a dozen lengths to score in 1:53 over a track labelled "good." Uncle Jord A was a strong second in his second local start while the favoured Optical Illusion N had to settle for third.
Moonshine Kisses paid $9.30 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $52.50 and $116, respectively.
The winner is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables LLC of Queensbury, N.Y.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26) with a matinee that starts at 12 p.m. (EST).
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)