Sciacca buys multiple stakes winner Saratoga Snacks

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gary Sciacca, who was fired as the trainer of Saratoga Snacks by owner Bill Parcells in the summer, has bought the multiple stakes-winning New York-bred ridgling for himself from the Hall of Fame football coach.

Sciacca said the deal for the soon-to-be 6-year-old was finalized just before Christmas.

“He was the one that wanted to do it,” Sciacca said of Parcells. “I’ve always like the horse.”

Though Saratoga Snacks won seven races from 12 starts, with three stakes wins, under Sciacca’s care, Parcells moved the horse to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at the beginning of the Saratoga meet in July. Saratoga Snacks went winless in five starts for Mott, including a decent third-place finish in a turf optional-claiming race and, most recently, a second-place finish in a dirt allowance race that was to serve as a prep for Wednesday’s Alex M. Robb.

“I didn’t want to run him in there,” Sciacca said. “I’m going to give him a little time. I want to see if he gets back to the way he was acting when he was running good. I think he’s a little quiet right now.”