Platinum As was the headliner of a big day for Team Beckwith - trainer Melissa and driver Brett - as the gelding went back-to-back in the $22,603 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot on Monday, March 16 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
He was three-wide around the first turn to take the lead from post seven, clearing past the quarter in :27.3, and he faced steady pressure from Empire Builder (Leon Bailey) through the half :57.1. The gelding cruised to three-quarters in 1:27, then remained strong in the stretch to hold off pocket-tripper By The Book (Jay Randall) for a half-length victory in 1:56.4 over a track rated good. City Of Hope (Jim Devaux) was third.
Platinum As became the first trotter to win the Open three times this season at Saratoga. The eight-year-old son of E L Titan-Jarette As, now 33-for-119 lifetime, is owned by FAC Racing LLC, Brett Beckwith and Yannick Gingras. He paid $3.70 to win.
Brett and Melissa Beckwith teamed up for another two winners on the 12-race program. In addition to Platinum As, the conditioner sent out winners Backdoor Cover ($3.66) and Oli Canoli ($3.22), both driven by Brett, and Lets Go North ($6.22), who was handled by Jacob Cutting. She leads the Saratoga standings with 32 wins, nine ahead of second-placed Jaymes McAssey. Her win rate overall this year sits at 34.4 per cent with 32 wins in 93 starts.
Brett Beckwith, Melissa's son, also scored with the Cam Capone-trained Custom Fit ($4.54) and Andrew Sardella pupil Powerful Melissa ($3.16), totalling five victories on the day. He holds a 30-win lead over Kyle Swift on the drivers' leaderboard, and the 2024 Dan Patch Rising Star Award recipient is 146-for-603 across all tracks this year.
Live racing continues at Saratoga on Tuesday with an 11-race card that begins at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)