It was a big afternoon on Monday at Saratoga Casino Hotel for trainer Kyle Spagnola, as the young conditioner entered the week in fifth in the trainer standings and added two wins to his total on the matinee card.
Spagnola’s Skibbereen (Real Desire) made his return from Vernon Downs where he prevailed in the $12,000 final of the Farina Series and wound up as the betting public’s 3-5 favourite in the field of colts and geldings competing for a purse of $5,750 on Monday despite twice being a beaten favourite in his local starts.
Skibbereen powered up around the final turn and cruised past the leader before drawing away to win in 1:58.3 with Frank Coppola, Jr. in the sulky. Skibbereen joined trotter The Franchise (Billy Dobson) in recording a win on the Monday card for Spagnola who scored a training double and had a second and a pair of thirds with his trainees on the day while in the midst of another strong season at the Spa.
Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga with a 12:15 p.m. matinee when there will be a pick-5 carryover of $2,804.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)