Help Us Help You has been a winning machine at Saratoga Casino Hotel of late and on Tuesday, May 12, the Dan Gill trainee scored his fifth victory in his last six starts in a $13,288 conditioned feature trot.
The son of Helpisontheway-Stage Presence was one of three co-favourites at odds of 2-1. Regular driver Leon Bailey flashed early speed in the feature with Help Us Help You, who has thrived with a variety of trips over the course of his strong stretch. The gelding took the lead at the quarter in :28.4, then cruised to the half in :59.1 before being confronted by co-favourite Doubledownonour P (Justin Huckabone), who was making his seasonal debut. Those two squared off through three-quarters in 1:28.2 before Help Us Help You put him away around the final turn en route to stopping the timer a winner in 1:59.1. Doubledownonour P was a solid second, 1-1/4 lengths back, in his first start of the year while Captainess Sawyer (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot.
Help Us Help You’s final time matched the seasonal mark for the pacer, who is in the midst of the hottest streak of his young career. He won three races in a row starting on March 31 before stepping up in company for a week and finishing sixth on April 20. Last week, the four-year-old moved back to the level of his wins and prevailed again. The gelding, owned by Adam Friedland, is seven-for-48 lifetime. He paid $6.36 to win.
The win was one of two on the 11-race card for Leon Bailey. Jim Devaux led the drivers with a triple.
Live racing at Saratoga resumes at noon on Saturday.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)