Sunday afternoon, one day after Grand Couturier posted a 15-1 upset in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, Saratoga’s biggest turf race, John T. Becker’s Classic Pack pulled an upset of his own as he rallied for a three-quarter-length victory over Red Zipper in the 28th running of the $110,300 West Point Handicap for New York-bred at nine furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.

Sent off at 13-1 by the bettors among a Saratoga record crowd of 72,745, most of whom came to take advantage of a folding chair giveaway, Classic Pack overcame a fractious start that caused him to break in the air, then settled down under jockey Cornelio Velasquez and came with a late run for his fifth victory in 17 career starts. Two of those wins have come on this course, where last year, he won a division of the New York Stallion Series. This win was worth $29.60 to the astute $2 win players.

“I love Saratoga,” said trainer Ramon “Mike” Hernandez. “This is my town. I had confidence in my horse today. He loves the course. He won here last year. He never carried this weight before (one pound over at 116 pounds). He carried 122 or 120; that was the difference. Things that you change turn about better for the race – sometimes, you have to change riders. But I had to do it. Cornelio (Velasquez) gave him a beautiful ride.”

The triumphant journey was set up by Retribution, who took jockey Chantal Sutherland on a rapid early run of :22.23; :45.27; and 1:10.52 on the firm course, where the portable rail was set at 12 feet. Velasquez knew that pace wouldn’t hold and kept his mount wide and clear for his run at Red Zipper.

The 4-year-old Regal Classic colt kicked in to win in 1:47.77.

“He broke okay and was put in a good spot,” Velasquez said. “When I asked him to go, he started to move and he passed the other horses. He ran good today. I had a lot of horse.”

Red Zipper, the bettors’ second choice, was a half-length better than third-place finisher Foreverness. Dave, the 2005 West Point winner was fourth, followed by Golden Commander, Classic Fran, Pa Pa Da and Retribution.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said Red Zipper’s jockey, Eibar Coa. “I sat in a good position. I asked him when I needed to, and he gave me what he had. I just got beat. I’m very happy with the way he ran today.”

Accountforthegold and Building New Era were scratched, as they were entered for the main track only.