Slugfest moved his career bankroll to over the half-million dollar mark with a win in Sunday’s feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
The Trotter of the Year at the Spa in both 2014 and 2015, Slugfest is again off to a strong start this season. The Maureen Salino-trained trotter secured his second win of the campaign in the $15,000 Open Trot as he moved out to the early lead. Cruising through fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:26.2, Slugfest dug in in the stretch to hold off the challenge of pocket-sitter Flyhawk Thriller (Stephane Bouchard) before prevailing in 2:03.1 in the 1-1/16 mile trot. Flyhawk Thriller was the runner-up while Pop I (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) earned the show spot.
Slugfest returned $7.70 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $41.40 and $168, respectively.
Slugfest is off to a great start to his season as he looks to become the first horse to ever be named Trotter of the Year three times at the Spa. The earnings from his Sunday win moved the Conway Hall seven-year-old’s career bankroll tally to over $503,000.
Jay Randall piloted Slugfest to his Sunday score for owners Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)