On Sunday, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Casino Hotel, the Gary Levine stable produced three winners on the 13-race card.
Ea American (pictured above) was the first of the triad to get her picture taken with Matthew Athearn in the bike for Levine in a $9,500 condition pace.
Ea American secured the early lead with Danceforthemoney (Shawn Gray) battling for the front from the outside. After the first panel in :27.2, Danceforthemoney cleared the lead and Fine By Me (Luke Hanners) pulled first over, leaving Ea American back to third through the half in :57.2. Voom Voom (Jay Randall) was the next to make a move against the leading Danceforthemoney at the three-quarters in 1:27. Danceforthemoney fended off that challenge, but Ea American sprinted home in the stretch to nab the win by a half length in 1:56.3. Danceforthemoney took second with Lucky Cora (Chris Long) grabbing third.
Levine co-owns the three-year-old American Ideal mare with Fbp Racing Stable LLC.
Billy Dobson piloted the next two victories for Levine, starting in an $8,700 condition pace with Shake N Blake, who shared her win in a dead heat with Vegan.
Vegan (Wally Hennessey) was the pacesetter for the mile and clicked out panels in :28, :58 and 1:26.4. Shake N Blake got away third at the opening panel, moved first over through the half and settled into second for the remainder of the mile. Down the stretch, the pair evened out and crossed the wire in unison in 1:57. After a review of the wire photo, it was determined to be a dead heat between the two pacers. Classical Friskie (Gray) completed the ticket.
Levine owns Shake N Blake, a three-year-old Hes Watching daughter, and Paul Dudka trains Vegan, a sophomore daughter of Stay Hungry, for owner Tina Rafferty.
Major Makover completed the training hat trick with Dobson steering him to a gate-to-wire victory in a $5,600 condition pace.
Leaving from post three, Major Makover made every pole a winning one through panels in :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.2 en route to a one-length victory in 1:54.4. Love The Blues N (Brett Beckwith) finished second with Four Foot Gimme (Jay Randall) rounding out the top three.
Donald MacRae co-owns the five-year-old son of Art Major with Levine.
Racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel continues on Friday, Sept. 1 with this weekend being the last of the 6:45 p.m. post time. The following week, racing at the Spa will move to a Saturday through Monday schedule with a first post at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and a 12 p.m. post on Sundays and Mondays.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)