While Saturday night’s Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured the return of defending Horse of the Year Artful Way, it was a different returnee who wound up prevailing in the $14,500 feature.
Somewhere Fancy (Somebeachsomewhere) has been competing at a high level at Yonkers for much of this season and was assigned post five in a six-horse Saturday Open. Billy Dobson piloted the Rene Allard trainee and powered him out to early lead.
Part of a speed duel in the early going, Somewhere Fancy set sizzling fractions of 26.3 and 54.4 in the first half. Facing just mild pressure, Somewhere Fancy stepped on the gas and kicked away from his rivals after posting three quarters in 1:23 and cruised to victory in 1:51.1. Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) toughed it out first over and wound up as the runner-up in the Open Pace for the second consecutive week while Lachie Maguire N (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) earned the show spot.
Somewhere Fancy, who has competed locally in the past, returned $6.20 to win in his first score in the local Open.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)