Ascending paces 1:53.2

In what now seems an every day occurrence at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, a new track record has been set and the all-time track standard was equaled by Ascending, who flew over the recently reconditioned half-mile oval in 1:53.2 on Thursday night.

Following in the hoof prints of last Saturday’s record equaling mile by Am I Next A, Ascending has joined the aforementioned pacer and the great Bunny Lake as co-owners of the all-time fastest miles ever paced at the Spa City oval. In April the Saratoga half-mile oval was reconditioned by Charles E. Coon & Sons Inc.

Leading the way every step of the mile, driver Kyle Di Benedetto hustled the classy Ascending to the top through a torrid opening panel of :27.3, while managing a slight breather to the half as they reached the mid-way station in :57.

The lifetime winner of nearly $600,000 appeared to be on cruise control. John Stark Jr. pulled Annie McGuire to challenge past the five-eighths mile marker, but Ascending was game with a :28.2 third panel to discourage Stark’s strategy. Alone through the stretch, Ascending battled only the teletimer.

Ascending is owned by Blue Chip Partners and trained by Robert Horowitz. The 6-year-old Camluck mare now has three wins in nine starts this season. She sports a career best of 1:51.1 taken at Woodbine and has finished on the board in 63 of 99 career starts. She's just $13,000 shy of $600,000 in career earnings.

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