Big N Bad toughed out a first-over journey to score in the Saturday night Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Buzzy Sholty-trained pacer wound up moving to the outside of longshot leader Race Me Rocky (Phil Fluet) heading to the half in the $13,000 Open. Big N Bad fought gamely in a third quarter that was paced in :27.2 before wearing down the leader. After surging into command, Big N Bad was met with the challenge of the favoured Givenupdreaming (Frank Coppola Jr.) before holding off that bid and stopping the timer in 1:51.3 over a track labeled ‘sloppy.’ Givenupdreaming came up second best while Stevensville (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot.
Big N Bad, who was piloted to the win by Wally Hennessey, paid $19.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $81.50 and $373.50, respectively. The son of Badlands Hanover is owned by Vincent Laurenzo.
Hennessey, who won the driving title at Pompano Park in Florida this year, has made a big impact upon returning to the Spa. The Hall of Famer piloted five winners on the Saturday card.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee set to begin at 12:15 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)