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Brookroad Knight leads the way at Saratoga

 

 

Saratoga Springs, NY --- Four divisions of New York Sire Stakes Late-Closers for 2-year-olds were raced at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Sunday afternoon, serving as co-features.

Brookroad Knight (CR Excalibur--Questionable Lady) was the race’s 1-5 favorite and made easy work of his rivals in the matinee’s opener by cruising to an eight length win in 2:02.2. The victory was the third straight for the Bruce Borden trainee and second straight in late-closer competition. Dan Cappello, Jr. sat behind the freshman trotter as he completed his hat trick in the $12,200 stakes.

Another favorite, Gaelic And Garlic (Credit Winner--La Tapatia), also ran his win streak to three on Sunday afternoon. Stephane Bouchard drove the Ed Hart trainee to a convincing. Front-running score. The 3-5 public choice never suffered an anxious moment en route to a 2:03.1 victory.

Bouchard registered another win with a freshman trotter on Sunday as Hurrikane Brockton (Conway Hall--Global Possession) had to make up for an early break to beat his rivals in the afternoon’s ninth race. The John McDermott-trained trotter made an early miscue and spotted the field better than a dozen lengths, but came charging hard at the finish to win for the first time in six career tries.

The afternoon’s mild upset amongst the late-closers came as Prima Facie (Plesac--Perennial) registered his first lifetime win, outlasting his rivals after surviving a first-over journey against the race’s favorite. Prima Facie, who established a lifetime mark on Sunday by stopping the timer in 2:05, was piloted by leading driver Billy Dobson for trainer Brandon Simpson.

Live racing at Saratoga will resume on Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m., eastern.