Nova Scotia-bred Soul Assassin was one the top pacers at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2023 and the Brett Derue trainee won his first Open Pace of his 2024 campaign on Saturday, May 4.
A winner of nine races last season, Soul Assassin got off to a bit of a slow start in 2024. Competing for the defending leading trainer at the track, the five-year-old P.E.I. sired gelding by Malicious drew post four for his try in the $20,548 Open on Saturday. Coming off his first victory of the season a week ago, Soul Assassin was heavily backed by the betting public in his return to the Open, going off as the 8-5 favourite in the wagering.
Driver Billy Dobson was ultra-aggressive with the Derue-trained pacer and powered him out to the early lead despite being parked out in a first quarter that went in a sizzling :26.4. Soul Assassin took the early lickin’ and kept tickin’ as the favourite persevered after reaching the half in 56 seconds before checking in at three-quarters in 1:24. Longshot Belmont Major N (Matt Athearn) sat the pocket to Soul Assassin and wound up as the runner-up in the feature while Ronaldo N (Wally Hennessey), the longest shot on the board, earned the show spot in a mile clocked in 1:53.
Soul Assassin paid $5.50 to win in his first Open score of ’24 and the former Spa Pacer of the Year nominee led an exacta and triple that returned $47.80 and $504, respectively.
The Atlantic stakes winner, who is approaching the $200,000 mark in career earnings, is currently owned in partnership by his trainer along with Steve Picarazzi and Donny Bullard.
Leading driver Brett Beckwith was the sulky star of the night as the young reinsman piled up six winners on the card to continue his sensational season at the Spa.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)