Platinum As recorded his first victory of the season in February and has since been a favourite of the betting public in the early stages of the 2026 season at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The eight-year-old E L Titan-Jarette As gelding came up second-best last week as the beaten favourite in the Open Handicap Trot but on Monday, March 9, the Melissa Beckwith trainee would not be denied.
Brett Beckwith co-owns and drives Platinum As, who does the majority of his racing as a closer but showed early speed on Monday to make the lead. The 3-5 public choice in the $22,603 feature for high-steppers, Platinum As cruised through a first quarter in :27.4 before getting a bit of a breather and reaching the half in 58 seconds. Memorynimagination (Matt Athearn), a two-time Open winner last month, drew post eight on Monday and wound up going first-over on the race’s favourite. The pursuit, while tenacious, proved
futile, at least as far as trying to get to Platinum As, who won in 1:56.1 by three-quarters of a length. Longshot In A Tiny Way (Aaron Byron) earned the show spot.
Platinum As now boasts 32 career wins and more than $630,000 in earnings.
Platinum As gave Brett Beckwith one of his four winners over 12 races on the Monday matinee card. Beckwith co-owns the trotter with fellow reinsman Yannick Gingras along with Fac Racing of Scarsdale, New York.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)