Saratoga Harness: Outside posts prove no issue in New York Sire Stakes races

New York Sire Stakes were featured on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel as 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters took center stage. There were two divisions that each went for a purse of $90,050. Drawing the outside post is usually a big time hazard, but on Saturday night both Sire Stakes winners drew post eight for their tries going for the big bucks.

Erv Miller’s Livinonthedash (Muscle Mass-Sunshine Glide-Master Glide) had one rival scratched, so he ultimately started from post seven. The talented trotter came from well off-the-pace to win his previous start at Yonkers and got away last in his Saratoga debut on Saturday. Patient Marcus Miller piloting paid off, and the super sophomore came charging hard in the stretch to complete his last-to-first move, stopping the timer in 1:55 4/5 to be the fastest of the stakes winners on the card. Winnerup (Trond Smedshammer) was a strong second to Livinonthedash, while longshot Travel Winner (Jay Randall) earned the show spot.

Livinonthedash’s victory was his eighth in 13 starts in 2019 and boosted his seasonal earnings to over the $170,000 mark. Livinonthedash paid $6.80 to win as he overcame his outside post to prevail for the third time in his last four NYSS starts.

The other division saw Lucky Weekend (Lucky Chucky-Weekend Vacation-Conway Hall) draw post eight, and the Christopher Lakata trainee had hit the board in his three previous starts in the NYSS but had yet to win a stakes race heading into Saturday’s try.

Unlike Livinonthedash, Lucky Weekend did not have the benefit of a scratch in his race but did utilize his early speed to surge out to the lead with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky. After setting a sensible pace on the engine, Lucky Weekend was confronted by rival Powerscourt (Mickey McGivern), who headed the leader around the final turn and battled him every step of the way in the stretch. Lucky Weekend proved too tough and dug in to win in 1:57 2/5. Powerscourt was a strong second, while Captain Krupnik (Randall) finished third. Lucky Weekend paid $13.80 to win in the mild upset.

--press release (Saratoga Casino Hotel)--