Saratoga Harness: Scott Mongeon reaches 1,000 training victories milestone

Scott Mongeon needed just two wins to reach 1,000 in his training career coming into Sunday (Oct. 20) at Saratoga Casino Hotel, and he did just that on the sunny matinee card.

Mongeon got his first training win of the day in the $15,000 Winners Over / Open Handicap Trot with By The Book.

Jay Randall took the Chapter Seven-Explosive High gelding to the gate in post eight, and By The Book was caught outside in the lead at the quarter in 28 1/5 but quickly continued in command from the pylon position. He maintained his lead through the half in 58 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:27 2/5 before fending off Duckdodgendive (Matty Athearn) in the stretch to win by a half-length in 1:56 3/5. Wania (Brett Beckwith) was third.

Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas, and Tina Murray co-own the 5-year-old gelding and winner of $254,510 in lifetime earnings. He won his seventh race of the season in 14 starts and posted his 21st career victory from 64 starts. He paid $3.10 to win as the bettors' choice.

The sixth race feature was also named the Chuck Simon Memorial Trot after popular horse racing enthusiast Chuck Simon, who passed away in early September after battling cancer. Simon was a Saratoga Springs native and worked in various capacities in horse racing from the Thoroughbred side to the Standardbred side. The winner's circle was filled with friends and family of Simon for a blanket ceremony in his memory.

Mongeon secured his second win of the day and his career milestone triumph with But Why in the $12,500 Jim Derue Memorial Trot consolation.

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Jim Devaux sent the Crazy Wow-Porque sophomore gelding from post five, and they were caught on the outside in second at the 28 1/5 quarter. After the opening panel, Devaux moved But Why into the lead, and there were no questions if he was the winner. He opened up by 1 1/2 lengths at the 57 4/5 half, then 1 3/4 lengths at the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters before he romped home to score by six lengths in 1:57 4/5. Crazy Brother Jim (Chris Long) was second and Champain (Mickey McGivern) finished third.

Steven and Laura Stewart co-own But Why, a winner of three starts this year and four times in his career. He paid $2.60 to win.

Scott Mongeon, a native of the Spa, has over $5.6 million in career training earnings to go along with 1,000 wins. He has 1,798 driving wins and $7.26 million in career driving earnings. In 2023, Mongeon was inducted into the Saratoga Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

Also on the card, the $34,300 Jim Derue Memorial Trot final saw Doc Nixon pocket the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:57 3/5 with Aaron Byron in the bike for Brianne Sinclair. Sinclair co-owns the Cantab Hall-Southwind Hope 4-year-old gelding with Ashleigh Bailey and Amber Longo.

Racing at the Saratoga Springs oval resumes on Monday (Oct. 21) afternoon with a 12 p.m. first post time. This week is also the return of Tuesday afternoon racing at Saratoga, with racing from Saturday through Tuesday taking place through the end of the meet in mid-December.

--edited press release (Saratoga)--