Birch Island Betty won the Fillies and Mares Open Pace for the fourth time of the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel, going coast-to-coast on Sunday night (Aug. 21).

Birch Island Betty powered out to the early lead and driver Luke Hanners rated the mile well, getting a half in :57.2 before clicking off three-quarters in 1:25.4. The seven-year-old daughter of Big Jim got tested in the stretch when last week’s Open winner Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) tried to complete a last-to-first move to repeat in the ladies’ feature. Birch Island Betty held off that late bid and stopped the timer in 1:54.2 to record her fifth victory of the season and fourth in Open company. Demeter N finished second while Luck B Mine (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot in the $16,000 feature.

Birch Island Betty, who paid $11.80 to win in the mild upset, is trained by Eve Bergeron and owned by Dany Grenier of Ste-Helene-De-Bagot, Que. The exacta and triple in the race came back $51 and $313, respectively. With the win, Birch Island Betty moved her career bankroll over $263,000.

Live harness racing resumes on Friday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45 p.m. There will be Pick 5 carryover of $3,248 on Friday with the Pick 5 beginning in the first race. 

(With files from Saratoga)