Former Rideau Carleton Raceway regular Duke Lavictoire stepped up to the $21,918 Open Handicap level at Saratoga Raceway on Tuesday, June 10 and turned in another winning effort to remain unbeaten in his first two starts for his new stateside connections.
Duke Lavictoire made his Saratoga debut on Monday, June 2 and prevailed decisively in his season's debut and first start for trainer Brett Derue and driver Wally Hennessey. The seven-year-old Royalty For Life-Kadabra Lavictoire gelding cruised to a 1:55.2 romp in start in a $15,753 conditioned trot.
Following that score, Duke Lavictoire jumped up to the Open for his second local try on Tuesday afternoon and wound up being the favourite in the feature. Hennessey once again sat behind the trotter, who rolled out to an easy lead. Duke Lavictoire cruised out to a :27.3 first quarter before backing things down to the half in :57.4. The 3-5 betting favourite lengthened his lead from that point on rattling off three-quarters in 1:26.2 before stopping the timer in 1:55.3 for a victory of nearly four lengths over the "good" track. The track’s defending Horse of the Year, By The Book (Jay Randall), closed well to be second while Passarino (Jacob Cutting) earned the show spot.
With his Tuesday score, Duke Lavictoire moved his record in 2025 to two-for-two for owners Derue, Stephen Picarazzi of Saratoga Springs and Darreyl Bullard of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Saratoga newcomer has won 27 of his 80 races lifetime with 17 other top three placings while earning $167,977 lifetime.
The Open win was one of four victories on the card for Hennessey, who sits third in the local driver standings this season.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)