The Open wins just keep coming for trainer Rene Allard and driver Billy Dobson at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The red-hot tandem has now teamed up for five consecutive Open victories at the Spa. Following two Open wins on Gerrity night in July, Allard and Dobson won features last Friday and Saturday night, securing victories in the Fillies and Mares Open and the Open Pace.
Eclipse Me N (sired by Real Desire), who paced 1:51.4 on Gerrity night to become the fastest mare of the season at the Spa, cruised to a coast-to-coast victory in Friday night’s $15,000 Open for distaffers as she made good at odds of 1-2 to move the Open streak to five.
Dobson marched Eclipse Me N out to the early lead and they never looked back, cruising home to win in 1:52.2. Longshots Bye Bye Felicia (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) and Spreester (Jimmy Devaux) finished second and third, respectively, in Friday’s feature.
Eclipse Me N’s win was her seventh in 15 starts in 2019. She is owned by Allard Racing Inc. of Saint-Esprit, Que., Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation, Que., and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.
Dobson piloted another Allard trainee to victory on Friday as well as young pacer Robyn Camden (by Art Professor) cruised to a career-best score in 1:53.2 at odds of 1-9 in a $7,500 conditional race for fillies and mares.
Allard’s Beach Boogie will likely be the favourite in Saturday night’s Open Pace as the Allard-Dobson combo will look to extend the streak to six for consecutive victories in local Opens. Beach Boogie has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite for Saturday’s try in the Open.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05 p.m. There is a carryover of $1,303 in Saturday’s Pick 5, a wager that starts in the evening’s first race.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)