It has been a terrific late summer surge for Quadratic Bluechip at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Lisa Zabielski-trained trotter, who has previously dabbled in the local Open here and there, won the Friday feature for the first time last week (August 26). Zabielski and driver Chris Long have been a potent pairing this summer at the Spa and after their Quadratic Bluechip scored his first Open win last week, he drew post seven on Friday (Sept. 2) in his effort to repeat in the $16,000 feature.
The race’s favourite Reign Of Honor (Brett Beckwith) made a rare appearance on the front-end and despite working relatively hard to get to the top clicked off a half in a reasonable :57.2. As he and pocket-sitting ER Sophia (Jimmy Devaux) squared off in the stretch, the rail opened up for Quadratic Bluechip who was dismissed at odds of 25-1. The biggest longshot in the feature charged hard in the passing lane and won a photo with Reign Of Honor in a mile clocked in 1:56.3. ER Sophia finished third but was disqualified for causing interference to a rival around the final turn which resulted in Remember Titans (Jay Randall) being placed third.
Quadratic Bluechip, who is co-owned by Mark Salerno and trainer Lisa Zabielski, paid $52 to win as a rare back-to-back Open Trot winner and led an exacta and triple that returned $316.50 and $809, respectively.
Zabielski and Long doubled on the card as they teamed up for a victory with young trotter Sevenare who, like stablemate Quadratic Bluechip, recorded a victory for the second consecutive week.
Live harness racing continues on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
(Saratoga)