Brett Beckwith, the defending top driver at Saratoga Casino Hotel, continued his dominance on Wednesday, Feb. 26, capturing six wins on the card, including a sweep of the co-featured $13,571 races.
Earlier in the week, the 22-year-old reinsman missed a couple of race days —not for a vacation, but to accept the Dan Patch Rising Star Award. Beckwith, who topped the driver standings at Saratoga in 2024 and shared the Plainridge Park title with Bruce Ranger, wasted no time upon his return, piloting four winners on Tuesday before adding six more victories on Wednesday.
One of those wins came with Swiss Cotton, who extended his hot streak with a third consecutive victory. Stepping up into the winners of two but not more than five races lifetime class, the four-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Some Cotton gelding hugged the pylons before surging up the passing lane to prevail in 1:56.4. Lets Go Jude (Jim Devaux) finished second, while Rockinbillysdream (Chris Long) settled for third.
Swiss Cotton, trained by Melissa Beckwith for owner William Hartt of Carmel, Maine, returned $8.30 as a mild upset winner.
In the other co-feature, Beckwith catch-drove Legal Attack for trainer Jaymes McAssey, guiding the 1-9 favourite to a front-end victory in 1:56.4, matching Swiss Cotton's winning time. The four-year-old Bettors Delight-Impact Zone gelding cruised to his second straight local triumph, keeping his perfect Saratoga record intact. Prairie Rocknroll (Phil Fluet) finished second, with Skylight (Jim Devaux) rounding out the trifecta.
Legal Attack, owned by Morrison Racing Stable of Indiana, Pennsylvania, paid $2.20 to win.
Live harness racing resumes on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that starts at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)