Saratoga John wins Hopeful

Driver Steve Smith used patience with Saratoga John to win the $46,500 Hopeful Series final for 3-year-old pacing colts in 1:57 at Yonker Raceway Saturday night.

Saratoga John, the 9-5 second choice in the field of seven (Real Yankee was a judges' scratch), inherited post position two, and Smith didn't seem to care about moving inside one slot while 6-5 favorite Foiled Again (Jack Baggitt Jr.) had designs on leaving.

Foiled Again, alert early from post four, gained the lead before the :29.1 opening quarter.
An easy 1:00 half left the people's choice in seemingly good standings. Smith, however, decided not to press the issue, sitting in with Saratoga John while Rose Street Blush (Jim Pantaleano) came first-over.

That challenge prompted Foiled Again into a :28.1 third quarter, but he widened to a 2 1/4-length lead turning for home. Artomatic Pilot tried to gain from the pocket, to no avail. Saratoga John, however, was looking deep in the passing lane for his best stride, which he found.

"John" zipped by Foiled Again late, winning by a neck in a season's-best 1:57. Artomatic Pilot was third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

For Saratoga John, a Richess Hanover gelding, the victory was his second consecutive in five seasonal starts.

Trainer Buzzy Sholty scored a Yonkers-Meadowlands double Saturday. Over at The Big M his Mr. Big captured the Junior Trendsetter final while he recived the training credit for Saratoga John for co-owners Joseph Costa & Joseph Desapio.

"When you drive against Jack (Baggitt) every day at Freehold like I do, you know you're going to get carried to mid-stretch," Smith said.

"My horse seems to be much better when I don't have to use him early. He was very good last week (in the final preliminary leg) and I never even asked hin. Tonight, when the horse who carrried into the race last week (Real Yankee) was scratched, I figured my best chance was to sit."

The $23.250 winner's share pushed the career cash of Saratoga John to a bit less than $63,000. (Yonkers Raceway)

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