Saratoga Heater returning to trainer Stall

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saratoga Heater, who won the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes by four lengths last Sunday at Belmont Park for Lisa Lewis, is headed back to trainer Al Stall, with whom she began her career at Saratoga.

Stall said Saratoga Heater would likely be pointed to the Delta Jackpot Stakes in late November.

Stall said it had been a prearranged agreement that Saratoga Heater, who raced twice for Stall in Saratoga, would be sent to Lewis for the Bongard.

“She helped us out for three weeks,” Stall said. “We ran him quite a bit, so we’re going to give him a breather and run him in late November at Delta.”

Stall said Saratoga Heater, a New York-bred son of Temple City, won the Bongard despite losing a shoe in the race.

Weekday closures at Belmont

Starting Wednesday, the third and fourth floors of the clubhouse will be closed to patrons on weekdays for the remainder of the Belmont meet. That includes the third-floor food court and the Garden Terrace restaurant on the fourth floor.

Those areas will be open on the weekends.

All wagering will take place on the first and second floors.

“It was a business decision,” New York Racing Association spokesman John Durso said. “They have not been high-traffic areas on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. There will still be amenities for our guests on the first and second floors. It should have no impact betting.”