Monday’s matinee card at Saratoga Casino Hotel was highlighted by the eighth annual John Mongeon, Sr. Memorial Trotting Series Final.
The two legs of the Series were dominated by Dewey Arnold (Deweycheatumnhowe) who wound up as the public’s 1-9 betting favourite in the Final. Dave Dewhurst trains Dewey Arnold who has been a revelation in his three-year-old season. A solid trotter as a two-year-old, Dewey Arnold has had a breakout campaign in 2021 and came into Monday’s $32,900 Final on a five-race win streak.
After crushing the competition in both of the legs of the Series, Dewey Arnold would likely have been a big-time favourite regardless of post position but after drawing the rail for the Final was as big of a favourite as you can have.
Dewey Arnold moved out to the early lead under the guidance of reinsman Jimmy Devaux on Monday and it was lights out from there. The rising star cruised to a nine-length romp in 1:55.4 to complete the Series sweep. Battle Queen (Billy Dobson), who was the runner-up to Dewey Arnold in both legs of the Series, again came up second-best to him in Monday’s Final after getting the pocket ride behind the winner. Longshot Royal Soldier (Dan Cappello, Jr.), a leg two winner, earned the show spot in the Final.
Dewey Arnold, who is co-owned by his trainer Dave Dewhurst and Philip Hale, of New Hartford, NY, will enter stakes season on a tear after securing his sixth straight victory. The win was one of two for Dewhurst and Devaux on the afternoon as four-year-old mare Sweet Sofie T (Conway Hall) cruised to a front-running score in a $10,150 race for trotters.
Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with the $32,200 J.P. Morel Memorial Pacing Series Final highlighting a 12-race card. There is a $4,372 carryover in the Pick Five pool heading into Tuesday. The Pick Five starts in the afternoon’s first race which is scheduled for 12 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)