Series finals at Saratoga

There was a pair of mild upsets in the two series harness racing finals that took place on Saturday night at Saratoga.

The Virginia O'Brien and J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series reached their conclusion on Saturday and while both races featured odds-on favorites, it was two horses who drew post position one that wound up prevailing.

Eight fillies and mares battled it out for their share of the $27,500 purse in the Virginia O'Brien Final and while B B Royale (Stephane Bouchard) was the race's 3-5 it was She'snobeachboy (Dave Panlone) who prevailed in 1:57.1 after a first over journey.

The Dave Spagnola-trained She'snobeachboy returned $9.50 to win as he bested runner up Stormin Spree (Mark Beckwith) while Southwind Marilyn (Billy Dobson) finished third.

Brigadoon (Billy Dobson) was the 1-5 betting favorite in the J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series Final and wound up second best as the race's frontrunner Hillbillycashflow (Cam's Card Shark) held on to win it in 1:56.2.

Jimmy Devaux piloted Hillbillycashflow for trainer Heidi Rohr and coasted along unopposed in a slow first half of 59 seconds before holding off the late charge of Brigadoon to win by a head.

Hillbillycashflow returned $15.00 to win. Brigadoon had to settle for second in the $27,100 Final while Wishes In The Rain (Bruce Aldrich Jr) earned the show spot.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15pm.

Mike Sardella