Blazing Home N won the $22,603 Winners Over/Open Handicap Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the fourth time this season as the classy seven-year-old surged up the passing lane to record the victory on Saturday, April 26.
Owner-trainer-driver Larry Stalbaum had the favourite flash early speed but yielded to last week’s Open winner Belmont Royale N (Aaron Byron) in a first quarter of :27.3. Belmont Royale N, a runner-up in back-to-back features before securing his first Open victory last week, held strong in a half of :57 before rattling off three quarters in 1:25.1 while fielding mild pressure before turning for home. He hit the stretch while bracing for Blazing Home N, who surged at the passing lane and came on to win it by 1-3/4 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:53.2. Belmont Royale N came up second-best while Bitcoin Hanover (Chris Long) earned the show spot.
Blazing Home N regained his Open crown and took his sixth win of the year in 13 starts after not factoring at the finish last week. The son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Capture My Heart is now 26-for-83 lifetime with $500,759 in earnings. He paid $2.62 to win.
Literl Lad Hanover ($2.40) went coast-to-coast in a $9,247 claiming event for his fifth straight victory. The eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Latte Lady, piloted by Aaron Byron, reeled off the splits of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:26.3 before stopping the clock in 1:55.3 on a three-length score. Thisishowwedoit (Matt Athearn) was second, followed by Sounds Good (Jim Devaux). Literl Lad Hanover won all five starts after entering the Melissa Beckwith barn when claimed by William Hartt in March. Those connections have now been dispossessed of the gelding, who is 35-for-188 lifetime, via a $10,274 claim by Michael Pozefsky.
Live racing continues on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)