Little Santamonica has always loved competing at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the talented mare has always done her best work on the front end.

In Friday night’s $13,000 Fillies and Mares Open, the Jordan Hope trainee moved out to the lead. Driver Jimmy Devaux, who has said that Little Santamonica is one of his favourite horses as she always gives premium effort, gave the nine-year-old a second quarter breather before she was tested approaching three-quarters. Little Santamonica recorded her seventh victory of the season as she held off pocket-sitter Keene Olivia (Billy Dobson) and longshot Quick Draft A (Frank Coppola Jr.) to prevail in 1:53.1.

The race’s 6-5 co-favourite in the wagering led an exacta and triple that paid $27.80 and $189, respectively. It was career win number 42 for Little Santamonica, who earlier in the season paced the fastest mile of the year at Saratoga for distaffers when she stopped the timer in 1:51.4 in her previous Open win.

Courtney Crawford owns the daughter of Little Steven.

Live racing continues on Saturday night with a 6:45 p.m. first post time.

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)