This past summer, Todd Pletcher had the most successful meeting of any trainer in the 139-year history of Saratoga, North America’s oldest racetrack.
Now, the trainer who won 35 races–including six stakes–during the elite 36-day Saratoga meeting, is trying for another coup at another track with a history dating to the 19th Century, 112-year-old Hawthorne Race Course.
Pletcher has sent Lismore Knight from New York to run in Saturday’s Grade III $250,000 Hawthorne Derby, and the talented colt is the 7-2 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/8-mile grass race.
Neil Milbert.
Harness racing: Odds On Dee, a 26-1 long shot, took advantage of a torrid early duel between the betting favorites to capture the $100,000 Cinderella stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies Friday night at Maywood Park.
Odds On Dee enjoyed a pocket journey throughout the mile, sweeping past in the final quarter to win in 1 minute 53 seconds.
Earlier, Double Eagle pulled off a mild surprise in the first of two $72,500 divisions of the Galt Stake for sophomore trotters. In the second, a stakes record of 1:56 2/5 was posted by 3-5 pick Hellava Hush, who led at every pole for driver Dave Palone.
Mike Paradise.
