Phil Fluet had a big day on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel, as the veteran trainer/driver had a win and a second in the co-featured trotting races on the matinee card.
Scarey Karie (Conway Hall), who spent much of her summer competing in the New York Sire Stakes, came into Thursday’s $10,250 co-feature with earnings of over $60,000 for the year. Scarey Karie had little difficulty scoring a first-over victory on Thursday in 1:58.4. Fluet trains and drives the sophomore filly.
Fluet’s Item Eyes had a difficult journey in the other co-feature but did well to come from well off the pace to finish second to Mind Your Manners (Mickey McGivern). This mile for New York sired trotters went in the exact same 1:58.4 as did the other co-feature earlier in the day.
Fluet had a driving double on the card as the Paul Zabielski-trained Best Shot N (Bettors Delight) continued his local dominance. The New Zealand-bred pacer, who came to U.S.A. and to the Spa earlier this month, moved his record to three-for-three behind a career-best victory in 1:54.2.
Fluet, who won the Johnny Page Award for top breakthrough driver at the Spa in 2014, currently sits seventh in the driver standings this season.
Live racing continues on Friday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)