Off at 16-1 odds, Packmia bided his time in the $43,014 John Mongeon Sr. Memorial Trot final before striking the upset at the wire on Sunday afternoon, May 12 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Second choice Queen Indeed (Billy Dobson) designated herself as the pacesetter for the mile, followed by Tacticland (Jim Devaux) and favoured Pembroke Traveler (Mcgwire Sowers), with both of those trotters aiming for a series sweep. Packmia (Chris Long) got away fifth off the car. After a :29.1 opening panel over the sloppy track, Pembroke Traveler split the field in two as he led the outer charge. Packmia continued in fourth along the pylons through the half in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:28.3. With the swiftest final panel in :29.3, Packmia swept his foes and met the leading Queen Indeed steps before the wire. His strides lengthened and he went on to win by a half length in 1:58.4 for trainer Timothy Dickie. Queen Indeed had to settle for second and Tacticland completed the top three.
“Timmy said to be conservative with him and get a good piece," said driver Chris Long. "The race worked out perfectly and Packmia finished strong,”
Glenn Schnackenberg, Cheryl Schackenberg and Kellie Dickie co-own the sophomore Six Pack-Ldees Mia gelding. Packmia won his third race from nine lifetime starts in a career-best time. A winner in the second round of the series and a top three finisher in the other two preliminary legs, he paid $33.80 to win.
By The Book won the $15,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot on Sunday with Jay Randall in the bike for Scott Mongeon.
Leaving from post eight, Randall and By The Book were caught in a three-wide tussle for the lead with Snowpiercer (Brett Beckwith) and Malibu Kid (Larry Stalbaum) in the mix. After the :27.4 first quarter, By The Book settled on the lead along the pylons and never looked back. He hit the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:26.1. Free Willy Hanover (Chris Long) charged down the passing lane and met the pacesetter and pocket-sitting Snowpiercer in a photo finish at the wire. By The Book prevailed by a head in 1:56.3 while Free Willy Hanover finished second with Snowpiercer third.
Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas and Tina Murray co-own the five-year-old gelded son of Chapter Seven-Explosive High. By The Book won his fourth race from 11 starts this year and his 18th race from 61 career starts, pushing his earnings to $253,428. He paid $3.50 to win.
Racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel resumes on Monday, May 13 for a 14-race card kicking off at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)