Anthony Affrunti
An incredible 2017 Saratoga season capped off with the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful, which saw an impressive and erratic Sporting Chance end the meet on a high note, winning by a neck in 1:23.71 for the seven furlongs under jockey Luis Saez. The son of Tiznow became the 18th Grade 1 winner of the 40-day meet, and gave Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas his eighth victory in the history of the 113-year-old race.
Brian Bohl
Terry Hamilton's Heart to Heart made a triumphant return to Saratoga Race Course, using a stretch-drive surge to clear away by 1 ¼ lengths in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch for 3-year-olds and up on Monday, Closing Day, at Saratoga Race Course.
NYRA Press Office
J. Kirk and Jody Robison's Vertical Oak found the sloppy and sealed going much to her liking, splashing to a 5 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for 3-year-old filly sprinters under steady rain Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.
Anthony Affrunti
Gun Runner, the 5 ¼-length Grade 1 Whitney winner went postward with a target on his back in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward presented by NYRA Bets. The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride accepted the challenge and, under rider Florent Geroux, answered by opening up through the stretch to win by 10 ¼ lengths in 1:47.43 for the 1 1/8 miles on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Najja Thompson
Under a ground-saving trip with Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons, Larkin Armstrong's Harmonize was able to get up in the final jumps to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Glen Falls on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Brian Bohl
Lady Ivanka ran down Maya Malibu in deep stretch and fended off her rival by three-quarters of a length to capture the 126th running of the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
