Saratoga Maidens, Presented By KeenelandDismissed as the 8-1 second-longest price in a scratched-down field of six for the Sunday opener at Saratoga, CACTUS CLOSER (c, 2, Practical Joke–Star Cactus, by Uncle Mo) refused to lie down at the fence in the final stages and became an overdue first winner for the Dale Romans barn with a narrow victory in the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash.Quickly into stride from an outside gate, the bay colt showed the best early foot, but had some early company from 2-1 second pick Lou's Room (Epicenter) through a quarter in :22.37. Roused left-handed by Junior Alvarado in upper stretch, Cactus Closer was confronted and perhaps headed by Lou's Room, but he fought on bravely at the fence and went on to take it by about a neck.“He's a tough little horse, he finally got me to the winner's circle. Little man came through,” a relieved Romans told NYRA Live's Maggie Wolfendale.Cactus Closer hinted at some affinity for the grass with a half-mile move over the Oklahoma turf training track in :48 flat on Aug. 21 and that breeze instilled a fair bit of confidence into the conditioner.“We took him over there and worked him, we knew he was fast. It's good to get out of here with a win,” Romans added.The opening event on DraftKings Travers Day was annexed by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Club Reign (Core Beliefs), part-owned by former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. Cactus Closer also has a connection to the world of sports, as his co-owner Charles Monfort is part of the ownership group of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies.A $37,000 Keeneland January short-yearling and sold on for $65,000 at Keeneland September, Cactus Closer most recently fetched $175,000 at this year's OBS April Sale.O-Monfort, Charles, America's Pastime Stables, Bloom Racing Stable LLC (Jeffrey Bloom) and Barker, Edwin S; B-Russell B Jones Jr & Castle Park Farm (KY); T-Dale Romans outduels LOU'S ROOM and wins the lid-lifter at Saratoga for jockey @JuniorandKellyA and trainer @Romansracing. pic.twitter.com/GPxPjoJYdd— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 30, 2026The post Practical Joke’s Cactus Closer Not To Be Denied In Spa Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.