Big wins ahead of the track! But Why, the 2025 Saratoga Casino Hotel Horse of the Year, returned to winning ways in 2026 with a wire-to-wire victory in Monday’s Open Trot at Saratoga. The talented 5-year-old gelding scored his first win this year, following a successful comeback trail that included a third and second place finish.
Jimmy Devaux, who has driven But Why in all three of his starts this season, guided the mount to an impressive win. Breaking from post six, Devaux powered But Why to the lead and set steady fractions: :28.1 for the first half and :57.2 entering the stretch. The race concluded in a time of 1:56.4, with But Why finishing just a neck ahead of the field.
The $16,500 Open Trot saw a close finish, with Dewey Arnold a late runner-up at 16-1 odds, while In A Tiny Way and Malibu Kid dead-heated for show. Owned by Steve and Laura Stewart of Petersburgh, N.Y., But Why is a 14-time winner in 2025. Live racing continues Tuesday, April 14th, with the first post time at noon.