Heaven On High N and trainer/driver Larry Stalbaum won the featured $20,548 Open Handicap Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, June 22 while the father-son team of trainer Mark and driver Brett Beckwith dominated the undercard action.
Heaven On High N first won the Open Pace at Saratoga in April. Stalbaum trains and drives the New Zealand import and after hitting the board in three straight and four out of his previous five tries in the Open, Heaven On High N wanted the lead on Saturday night.
Stalbaum went pedal to the metal in the early stages of the feature and the seven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding made it to the top in a 27-second flat first quarter. Motoring through a first half in :55.1, Heaven On High N travelled unopposed before being confronted by Lanjo Lee (Billy Dobson), the race’s 7-5 second choice, who came first-over. Heaven On High N fought gamely and turned back Lanjo Lee late before being met with a late challenge from the favoured Ahi Sunshine (Wally Hennessey), who came into Saturday night off back-to-back wins in the Open. Heaven On High N would not be denied and reported home a winner by 1-3/4 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:52 for his second victory in the local Open and his fourth win on the season overall from 20 starts.
Heaven On High N, who is owned by the Shark Racing Stable, paid $13 to win in the upset and led an exacta with Ahi Sunshine second that returned $47.20. The triple in the six-horse Open was rounded out by Lanjo Lee and came back $57.
Stalbaum doubled on the night when his 10-year-old Bettors Delight gelding Ashley Locaz N won for the 11th time of the year in a $14,384 conditioned optional claiming pace.
Saratoga's leading trainer Mark Beckwith and leading driver Brett Beckwith teamed up for five winners on the 13-race, pacing-filled card. They kicked the night off with wins in each of the first three races on the card courtesy of Ourrhythmnblues N ($3.80), Win Lous Or Draw ($8.20) and Prairie Classic ($10). They late won back-to-back races starting in the 10th with To The Hunt ($7.50) and then with Social Drinker ($2.30).
Live harness racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga when the matinee will begin at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)