Program Trading stepped way up to top-level stakes company and was triumphant. Fending off a bid from Webslinger, Klaravich Stables’ talented sophomore proved a resilient winner of the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, taking the race by a head after he was passed in midstretch.
Program Trading was up to the task Saturday, winning after controlling the 1 3/16-mile turf race through fractions of :23.74, :49.59, 1:14.41, and 1:38.74 over yielding turf that had been softened by rain the previous day. Saturday’s race also provided the winner an automatic berth into one of Australia’s top races, the AU$5 million Cox Plate (G1) Oct. 28.
Program Trading is a Bridlewood Farm training graduate.
