Trainer Rene Allard won a pair of Opens last Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel and scored with Lyons River Pride in Friday night’s Fillies and Mares Open at the Spa.
On Saturday, Allard sent his Beach Boogie (Somebeachsomewhere) to town to compete in the $15,000 Open Pace. The five-year-old came in as a winner of three of his last four but had a daunting task ahead of him in the local feature.
He was tasked with besting 2019 Open star and the race’s big favourite, Hudson Phil (Jay Randall). Hudson Phil’s win streak in the local Open came to an end last week but he was the 4-5 public choice on Saturday nonetheless as he looked to start a new streak.
The Jackie Greene trainee powered out to the early lead and set fast fractions of :26.3 and :55.2 in the first half. All the while, Beach Boogie was sitting last in the six-horse feature. Leading driver Billy Dobson got Beach Boogie underway and after Hudson Phil clicked off three quarters in 1:23, the favourite had company. Beach Boogie tipped off the cover of fellow out-of-towner Lockton Luck A (Mark Beckwith) and stormed home to score in the Open in 1:51.2.
Paying $9.30 to win in the mild upset, Beach Boogie gave Allard his fourth Open win at Saratoga in the last eight days. Hudson Phil was the runner-up, while Lockton Luck A rounded out the top three finishers.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at Saratoga with NY Sire Stakes action featured with three year old filly pacers taking center stage. First post time is set for 7:05 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)