Artful Way won his fourth Open Pace of the year on Saturday night (July 2) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Jackie Rousse-trained four-year-old not only set a lifetime mark, but also paced the fastest mile of the year thus far at the Spa when he stopped the timer in 1:51.
Frank Coppola Jr. pointed Artful Way out to the early lead in a sizzling :26.3 before yielding to rival JK Panache (Wally Hennessey) past the quarter. JK Panache flew through a half in :54.1 and three-quarters 1:22.1 and still had something left in the stretch. Artful Way tracked him down in the final strides to record the mild upset at odds of 6-1. JK Panache held second while Caution Signs (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) earned the show spot.
Artful Way, who won 10 times in 25 starts last year en route to over $100,000 in earnings, is on almost that exact pace again in 2016 as he now owns five wins and more than $50,000 in his first 13 starts of the season. The winner returned $15.80 while the race’s exacta and triple paid $60.50 and $380, respectively.
The son of Artistic Fella is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables Ll.
Live racing takes place on Sunday and Monday afternoons with matinees beginning at 12:15 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga)