A pair of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for three-year-old colts and geldings on Sunday afternoon (May 26) kicked off the 2024 stakes action at Saratoga Casino Hotel with driver Tyler Buter and trainer Travis Alexander taking both splits.
In the first division, a seven-horse field going for $117,123, Buter and Reggie The Fourth settled in for the pocket ride through panels in :27, :55.3 and 1:23.2. Down the stretch, Reggie The Fourth used the inside path to victory by a half length in 1:53. Taranaki (Mark Herschberger) took second and Ameritric (Brett Beckwith) completed the top three.
Reggie The Fourth (Huntsville-Ruthie J Killean) moved his seasonal tally to 3-2-1 from six starts with $122,079 banked. Alexander trains the sophomore for breeder/owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. At 4-1 odds, the gelding returned $8.90 to win.
In the $119,676 second division, Buter sent Howlenthehills to the top from post two in the field of eight. Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett) was the first to clear the lead along the pylons and Howlenthehills was caught on the outside through the opening panel in :27. After the quarter, Howlenthehills made his way to the pylons and led through panels in :54.4 and 1:23.1. En route to the wire, favoured Boston Rocks gave a second go against the leader, but Howlenthehills prevailed by a half length in 1:51. Darius (Mark MacDonald) took the show spot.
Howlenthehills (American Ideal-Arielle Lynn) is owned by Symmetry Stables LLC and recorded his fourth straight win in four starts this year. He won in a new career mark and moved his seasonal sum to $155,295. At 2-1 odds, the gelding returned $6 to win.
Alexander topped off a training hat trick in one of five $27,397 NYSS Excelsior divisions with Buter piloting Ideal Par ($7) to a half-length score in 1:55.3.
To complete the Excelsior action, Boston Delight ($8) won in 1:55.3 by a quarter length with Joseph Chindano in the bike for Maggie Chindano, Seen Here ($2.70) and Brett Beckwith teamed up to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1 for trainer Mark Harder, Rendezvous Bay ($6.80) and Beckwith won by a head in 1:53.3 for Brian Cross, and Escape To America ($3.30) won by a neck in 1:54.4 with Joe Bongiorno holding the lines for Deborah Daguet.
On the undercard, By The Book (Jay Randall) came from sixth to sweep the field of featured trotters in the $20,548 Winners Over / Open Handicap Trot, winning by a neck in 1:56.2 in a photo finish. Free Willy Hanover (Chris Long) and Malibu Kid (Matthew Athearn) finished in a dead heat for second.
Scott Mongeon trains the five-year-old Chapter Seven-Explosive High gelding for Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas and Tina Murray. By The Book moved his seasonal tally to 5-3-2 in 12 starts and his career record to 19-10-12 from 62 starts. He boasts a $263,702 bankroll. As the bettors' choice, he returned $5.30 to win.
Brett Beckwith scored five driving wins on the Sunday afternoon card.
Racing at the Spa resumes on Monday, May 27 with 15 races going postward at 12 p.m.
(Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association)