Dustbin Spy sprang a 16-1 upset in the $22,361 Pop-Up Series final for trotters four years old and younger on Tuesday, May 26 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The son of Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip was dismissed by the bettors despite finishing second in his seasonal debut last week. Claude Huckabone III drove the gelding to the runner-up effort last time and once again sat behind the three-year-old on Tuesday.
Odds-on favourite Trolley Station (Jim Devaux) broke just after the start, leaving longshot Helpsfirstscore (Irvin Crews) to take the lead from post seven in a :28.4 first panel. Dustbin Spy, away fourth, picked up cover from Lucky Ellie (Wally Hennessey) following a first half of :59.3 and followed that rival until the filly cleared to the front past three-quarters in 1:29.3. Dustbin Spy quickly took aim and reeled in that one around the final turn before powering away from her in the stretch. Dustbin Spy then held off a late bid from Commisary Note (Chris Long) by three-quarters of a length for the 2:00.2 victory. Commisary Note finished second for the second consecutive week. Longshot Alwaysbemyania (Jacob Cutting) came on to finish third.
The win was the first pari-mutuel victory in the young career of Dustbin Spy, who went four-for-seven on the fair circuit in his freshman season. The Dylan Huckabone-Miller trainee is now five-for-nine lifetime with $29,309 in earnings for owners James Crawford, Timothy Drag and Rich Preziotti. He paid $34.22 to win.
The series was for pari-mutuel maidens or non-winners of $12,500 USD lifetime.
Live racing at Saratoga resumes on Saturday with a first post time of noon. There will be a carryover of $1,714 in the early Pick Four that begins in the second race.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)