With no Open Pace on the card Monday afternoon, a $5,750 conditional race served as the feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The race had the look of an Open, as seven of its eight participants showed Open lines on the program, with most having competed in the feature in one of the last few weeks.
Andy Sardella’s Gokudo Hanover, by Cams Card Shark, went off as the even money favourite in the highly competitive race, and, despite getting the perfect trip, had his hooves full with former Saratoga champion Panocchio (who was driven by Brian Cross).
Panocchio wanted the early lead at all costs and wound up parking out a rival in an opening half that saw fractions of :27 and :55. After dispatching that challenge, it appeared the leader may be tiring around the final turn when Gokudo Hanover pocket-pulled. Panocchio, the pacer of the year at Saratoga in 2014 and 2015, dug down for some of that back-class turning for home and held strong in the stretch before being edged out in the final strides by Gokudo Hanover, who got up to win in 1:53.1.
Gokudo Hanover, who was piloted to victory by leading driver Billy Dobson, prevailed for the fifth time in what was his twelfth 2020 start. Panocchio was a game and gutsy second, while Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot.
Gokudo Hanover increased his career bankroll to over $600,000 for current owners Mike and Bill Pozefsky of New York and Myron Ekstein of Nevada. The ownership team recorded its second win of the day when its Imsporty sprung a mild upset while beating his race’s 1-5 favourite en route to a 1:53.2 score with Jimmy Devaux piloting the Sardella trainee. The win was one of four on the card for Devaux. Owners Pozefsky and Ekstein scored a hat trick in the afternoon’s finale when their Golden Kronos prevailed with John MacDonald in the sulky.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)