Wolfpack Zach, the winningest horse this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel, added another victory to his local tally on Wednesday, June 10 as the rising star captured the $25,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot.
The up-and-comer made a break as the favourite in the Open last week but rebounded on Wednesday, when he scored with a brush-and-crush 1:54.2 effort with Jacob Cutting at the controls. After racing third through :27.3 and :56.3 opening panels, Wolfback Zach swept to the top coming onto the backstretch and kicked away, reaching three-quarters in 1:24.3 before cruising home a 2-3/4-length winner. But Why (Jimmy Devaux) came first-over down the backside and finished second. Last week’s Open winner Spaaaanzano (Kyle Swift) finished third. But Why, the reigning Horse of the Year at the Spa, has now hit the board in nine of his 10 starts in 2026.
Wolfpack Zach’s win was his 11th on the season in 15 appearances for owners Stuart Chambers Racing LLC, BCJM Inc. and Divine Horse Racing. He was the public’s 4-5 favourite in his second Open score. Trained by Joel Flanders, the four-year-old E L Platinum-Vandalous gelding began his season competing against younger trotters at the Spa, and after an early winning spree has climbed the ladder all the way up into the Open. Wolfpack Zach prevailed in his career Open-class debut on May 25 following his May 18 victory in 1:54.1, the fastest trotting mile of the year at Saratoga.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a first-post time set for noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)