Pembroke Prayer
The Friday night open trot at Saratoga Casino and Raceway was as star studded as any local harness racing feature this season. This year’s winningest horse at the Spa Lorenzo Dream led a talent laden field in the $16,000 open. The race also consisted of last week’s open winner Flex The Muscle, local trotting star Russ N Us and classy veteran Pembroke Prayer.
The longest shot of that bunch wound up not only winning the evening’s feature but dominating his competition. Pembroke Prayer (Like A Prayer) has raced at Saratoga on occasion and has had mixed results when in town. On Friday night though, there was nothing mixed about it as the Mark Ford trained seven year old put in one of the most convincing wins in an open that we have seen all year. Dan Cappello Jr was at the lines as Pembroke Prayer fired out at the start, capturing the early lead through a quarter in :28.3.
The classmaster would post 28 second panels in all four quarters of the mile before drawing away to win the open by a commanding eight and a quarter lengths in 1:56. Now over the $830,000 in career earnings, Pembroke Prayer dominated while dismissed at odds of 8-1, returning $19.80 to win. The race’s favorite Flex The Muscle (Phil Fluet) closed for second while Lorenzo Dream had to settle for third. The victory was one of three on the night for trainer Mark Ford. (Saratoga Raceway)
