Betabcool N overcame her outside post to win the Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night (March 9) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Assigned post six in the six-horse feature, Betabcool N (Bruce Aldrich Jr) flashed early speed and got away in the pocket behind the favoured Tempus Seelster (Billy Dobson). Tempus Seelster, whose local debut was a winning one in the $12,000 Open two weeks ago, cruised out to a big lead, setting first half fractions of :27.3 and :56.4 on Friday night. Despite pacing a third quarter in :27.4, Tempus Seelster couldn’t give Betabcool N the slip and wound up getting reeled-in in the final strides by the Jose Godinez trainee, who stopped the timer in 1:53.4.
For Betabcool N, it was win number three on the season after the eight-year-old Bettors Delight mare recorded two victories at Yonkers earlier in the campaign. Tempus Seelster was the runner-up while Dwsblissfulthinkn (Frank Coppola Jr.) earned the show spot.
Aldrich piloted three winners on the night including two for Godinez as they teamed up for a victory with Sally Fletcher A. That seven-year-old distaffer by American Ideal won the local Open back in December as part of a hot streak she rode to wrap up her 2017 campaign and made her return to the Spa a winning one on Friday evening in a conditioned race.
Live racing continues on Saturday night with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)