Mind Your Manners sprung a 12-1 upset in the Wednesday (Aug. 8) feature for New York-bred trotters at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The four-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe entire was one of the nominees for Three-Year-Old Trotter of the Year at Saratoga last season, but has not had a big follow-up campaign in 2018. Mind Your Manners was winless on the season heading into Wednesday’s $9,630 feature, but driver Mickey McGivern piloted aggressively in the early going and put the longshot on the front end. Enjoying pretty comfortable fractions throughout, Mind Your Manners fended off the challenge of the race’s second choice before drawing clear in the stretch to win in 1:59.3.
Amazing Sevens (Bruce Aldrich Jr.), who was the public’s 6-5 top choice, came from a long way back to finish second while Mass Confession (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot. Mind Your Manners, who recorded six wins as a sophomore last year, is trained by Cheryl McGivern.
Live racing resumes on Friday night (Aug. 10) at Saratoga, with New York Sire Stakes action highlighting the card as three-year-old trotting colts and geldings take centre stage. First post time is set for 7:05 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)