Chapheart drew post seven in the field of eight contesting for $15,000 in the Winners Over/Open Handicap at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday (Sept. 24) afternoon, but the Melissa Beckwith trainee pedaled on to victory in spite of his outside draw.
Brett Beckwith got away fifth with Chapheart while Summit City Sonny (Leon Bailey) led the field of top trotters to the opening panel in :27.3. Beckwith was the first to pull his right line and move to the outside while Summit City Sonny clicked out the half in :57.2. Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) tipped out to the outside and gave Chapheart cover en route to the three-quarters in 1:26.3. In the stretch, Chapheart was still fourth, 2-1/4 lengths behind the pacesetting Summit City Sonny. The four-year-old son of Chapter Seven used every bit of the stretch to get up just in time at the wire to win by a head in 1:56.2. Summit City Sonny had to settle for second and Big Box Hanover rounded out the top three.
Fac Racing LLC and Yannick Gingras co-own Chapheart as he earned his seventh win of the season and 12 career tally. He moved his seasonal earnings to $101,544 and career bankroll to $301,861.
Racing at The Spa resumes Monday (Sept. 25) afternoon for a matinee card starting at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Harness)