Primo Uomo made a triumphant return to the Winners Over/Open Handicap Pace level at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, March 21, making his first appearance in the top class this year and winning it for the first time since 2023.
Sent off at 15-1 from post two for his try in the $22,603 feature, Primo Uomo came off the gate aggressively to lead into the first turn. He briefly ceded command to Rebellious (Chris Long) nearing the quarter in :27.2, then went back around that rival in short order. Primo Uomo backed it down to reach the half in :57.2 before being confronted by the race’s 1-9 favourite Blazing Home N (Larry Stalbaum). A two-time Saratoga Open winner in 2026, Blazing Home N charged up to the outside of the longshot leader, and those two squared off in a heavy-duty battle after three-quarters in 1:26. Primo Uomo didn’t want to give an inch, and the six-year-old withstood the pressure from the big favourite, holding on by a nose and stopping the timer in 1:55.2 to complete the upset. Yonkers invader Warrior For Truth (Jacob Cutting) came on to finish third.
Primo Uomo, a frequent entry in the Open for the past two years, had been competing in the lower conditioned classes at the Spa this season, but following a strong stretch over the last few weeks was back up in top-level company on Saturday. Dave Dewhurst trains the six-year-old son of Heston Blue Chip-Primadonna for Chris and Dale Lawton. The gelding is now 33-for-124 lifetime. He paid $33.06 to win.
Trainer Jackie Greene won three of the day's 13 races, starting with a big upsetter in Im No Outlaw N ($152.84). Her other winners were Gandolf The Black ($4.24) and Time Passer ($4.98). She is now 12-for-51 on the season with a strike rate of 23.5 per cent.
The ninth race on the card was declared a no contest due to an accident at the quarter. Tuggin On My Heart (Bryan Quevedo), racing third on the inside, angled off the pylons but broke stride and hooked wheels with Syracuse Express (Leon Bailey), who was on his outside. They backed into Loulouameri (Timothy Benson), who was racing directly behind them, and the contact resulted in Bailey being unseated, with Quevedo falling from the sulky shortly after. The field behind them scattered to avoid the incident, and all horses, including Tuggin On My Heart and Syracuse Express, stayed up. Announcer Mike Sardella called that both drivers who were unseated got to their feet, and both loose horses were corralled. Updates on those involved will be posted when available.
Driver Jim Devaux piloted four winners on the card, including three in a row during a stretch that included his victory behind Primo Uomo.
Live racing continues on Sunday with a matinee that will feature carryovers in the early Pick Five and Pick Four. The Pick Five starts in the first race and will feature a carryover of $3,804 while the Pick Four starts in the second race and will have a carryover of $2,191. First post time is set for noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)