Take A Gamble prevailed in the $18,200 Open Pace on opening night, Saturday (Feb. 4), for the 2023 meet at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Leading in a first half of :56.4, Take A Gamble was met with the challenge of Spa first-timer Rocknroll Runa A when he got past the leader turning for home. In the stretch, Take A Gamble rallied back and reclaimed the lead late in the mile before hitting the wire first in 1:54.2. Longshot Optical Illusion N shook loose in the lane and charged hard to be second while Rocknroll Runa A tired late and wound up as the third-place finisher in the Open.
Leon Bailey piloted Take A Gamble, an invader from Yonkers, for trainer Jared Bako. He is owned by Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont. He paid $6.40 as the race’s favourite and led an exacta and triple that returned $112 and $424, respectively.
Live racing will take place on both Sunday (Feb. 5) and Monday afternoon (Feb. 6) with first post time set for noon for each of the matinees.
(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)