Riding a two-race win streak into the $21,622 Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel, City Of Hope rode the pocket to spring a mild upset in the featured dash on Monday, June 16.
City Of Hope flashed early speed in his return to Open company for driver Jimmy Devaux and sat the two-hole to co-favoured Passarino (Mark Beckwith), who cut the quarter of :28. Passarino rattled off a pretty comfortable half that went in :57.4 while City Of Hope rode his coattails through three-quarters in 1:26.3 before popping the pocket around the final turn. City Of Hope roared home in the stretch to get the better of Passarino en route to a 1:56.2 score by 1-1/2 lengths. Passarino was the runner-up while Up Helly Aa (Wally Hennessey) earned the show spot.
The win was City Of Hope's third in a row and fourth of the year in 17 attempts, but his first in the Open this season. He has earned $329,705 and won 27 of 93 lifetime starts for trainer Dave Dewhurst, who co-owns the five-year-old son of Mets Hall-Doin The City with Philip Hale. He returned $13.60 to win.
Hennessey led all drivers on the day with a grand slam on the 14-race card. The feature win kicked off a Devaux triple.
Live racing continues on Tuesday, June 17 with a first post time of noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)