In a harness racing rarity, both Paul Zabielski and his daughter Lisa notched a pair of training wins each on the Wednesday night (July 31) program at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Striking Star, a recent addition to the Paul Zabielski stable, was acquired by owner Kevin Quinn earlier in the month. After recording back-to-back wins after his acquisition, Striking Star went out of town but failed to factor in a start at Yonkers. In his return to the Spa, the four-year-old son of Crazed was the odds-on choice in his $7,250 trotting event. Driver Jimmy Devaux drove Striking Star to an easy coast-to-coast score, stopping the timer in 1:58.4 to move his local record to three-for-three for his new barn.
Zabielski, Quinn and Devaux teamed up later on the card for another victory with razor sharp New Zealand invader The Great Buzz N. Another recent acquisition for Zabielski, the son of Auckland Reactor N came into Wednesday’s try in a $6,000 pacing event as a winner of three races in his four local starts. Ooff last week’s 1:53.1 career-best clocking, The Great Buzz N was once again heavily backed, and he made good as the 1-5 favourite in 1:53.3 for his fourth local victory.
Lisa Zabielski trainee Aerial Flight toughed out a first-over journey to prevail in 1:58.3 in the evening’s $9,630 feature for New York-sired trotters. Jay Randall piloted Aerial Flight to victory.
Prior to that, Keystone Magneto broke maiden in his debut for Lisa Zabielski, going wire-to-wire in 1:54.4. Devaux, who piloted Keystone Magneto to victory, drove four winners on the night, including three Zabielski trainees.
Live racing resumes on Friday evening with a 7:05 p.m. first post.
(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)