Ontario-owner trotter Lucid Thoughts has spent much of 2017 finishing second and third. The John MacDonald trainee had hit the board in nine of his 11 seasonal tries, but was winless as he drew the rail for Sunday’s Winners Over Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Lucid Thoughts was part of a significant three-horse speed duel in the early stages of the $14,000 Sunday feature, but MacDonald would not relinquish the lead. Parking out a pair of rivals, the 8-5 co-favourite Lucid Thoughts went to the half in :55.3, but looked none the worse for the wear in the race’s second lap as he cruised to his first win of the year, a victory that came in 1:55.2. Photo King (Jay Randall) sat just off the early speed and was the runner-up while Cincinnati Miss (Frank Coppola Jr.) closed for third.
While Lucid Thoughts was co-favoured, the exotics paid well in the Sunday feature with an exacta of $51.50 and a triple that returned $449.
The nine-year-old Cash Hall gelding is owned by J P Stables on Winchester, Ont.
Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon with a matinee that kicks off at 12:15 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)