Magical Maya A put in the most impressive mile of the young season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 27 when she went coast-to-coast in the matinee’s featured $20,270 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Larry Stalbaum owns, trains and drives the six-year-old Aussie invader by Bettors Delight who hit the board in two of her first three starts in the local Fillies and Mares Open this year. On Tuesday, Stalbaum powered the 6-1 shot out in first-half fractions of :27 and :55 as longshot Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) tracked the leader’s every move from the pocket. The rest of the field in the Open was strung out and Magical Maya A just never let up, pouring it on to lead past three-quarters in a dazzling 1:22.4 before hanging on to win in 1:52.1. The speedy mare lowered her lifetime mark by close to three seconds in the victory that took place on a spring-like afternoon in Saratoga. Alittlesidehustl N was the runner-up at odds of 21-1 while Racy Roxy A (Jay Randall) came from a long way back to finish third.
Magical Maya A paid $15.40 to win in the upset as she joined veteran distaffer Miss Irish Rose A as Stalbaum trainees to pull off surprises on Tuesday’s card. The 12-year-old McArdle daughter, Miss Irish Rose A, won for the first time this season while competing in a race for claiming filly and mare pacers. Stalbaum is the owner, trainer and driver for both of his stable’s Tuesday winners.
Live harness racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)