There were two series finals which served as co-features on Saturday night (May 13) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series final went for a purse of $31,600 for young colts and geldings and was won by heavily favoured In A Single Bound (sired by Roll With Joe).
The Monica Krist-trained three-year-old set a lifetime mark of 1:52.4 in leg one of the series two weeks ago but was a beaten odds-on favourite in the prep for the final, which took place last weekend.
On Saturday night, Billy Dobson put the 2-5 public choice on the engine and the sophomore standout never looked back before drawing away to win by more than five lengths in 1:53.1 over a sloppy Spa oval for owners Dennis and Simone Noud. American Wiggle (Stephane Bouchard), who upset In A Single Bound last week, was the runner-up to him in Saturday’s final while Beckarama (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot.
In A Single Bound became the fifth winner of the J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series, which started in 2013.
P.E.I.-bred Nashurallability (sired by Ameripan Gigolo) moved her record to four-for-four for trainer Joe De Carlo and driver Chris Long as she completed the sweep of the Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series on Saturday night.
The race’s overwhelming favourite at odds of 1-9, Nashurallability never had an anxious moment as she wired the group of fillies and mares who took part in the $31,500 final in a career best-matching 1:54.3 over the sloppy track. Sweet You (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) was the runner-up while Constant Factor (Jay Randall) came on to finish third.
The four-year-old mare owned by William Sartin added her name to the short list of winners of the O’Brien Memorial, which now consists of Karla Art, Shesnobeachboy and Nashurallability.
Live racing continues at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)