Simple Kinda Man has been a monster since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel last month and on Monday the Brett Derue trainee scored in his first attempt in the Open Pace.
Simple Kinda Man won his local debut in June when he circled the field behind a three-wide move to prevail in 1:53.4. After finishing second the following week, the six-year-old pacer moved up into the $12,850 Winners Over for pacers last Monday and dazzled when he went wire-to-wire in 1:50.4 - a clocking that at the time was the fastest of the meet at Saratoga.
On Monday afternoon, Simple Kinda Man took yet another jump up in company and drew post seven in the seven-horse Open Pace which went for a purse of $14,000. Driver Jimmy Devaux was forced to take back early with Simple Kinda Man who sat last as first half fractions of :26.1 and :54 popped up on the timer.
With the favourite Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum) softened by those fractions on the front-end, the backfield was set in motion in the race’s final lap and invader Chatelroll (Wally Hennessey) rolled past the leader to take over. Simple Kinda Man, who was still in sixth at the three quarter pole, came motoring home and flew past his rivals to record his first Open Pace victory stopping the timer in 1:51.3. Chatelroll was next best, with Quagmire Bluechip finishing third. Simple Kind Man paid $19.80 to win.
The winner, who overcame nearly a 12-length deficit at the quarter pole, is owned by Steve Picarazzi, Scott Petillo and trainer Brett Derue all of New York who also had a Monday score with their Nothing To Prove who scored a hat trick with reinsman Wally Hennessey at the controls. It was back-to-back wins in the Open Pace for Devaux on Monday who piloted Sports Obsession to victory in last week’s feature for pacers.
Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post time set for 12 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)