It’s been a hot stretch at Saratoga Casino Hotel for trainer Alicia Gray and driver Shawn Gray and on Monday, the tandem teamed up for their second Open Pace win in the last three days at the Spa.

Alluneedisfaith N won the Open Pace for Team Gray on Saturday night during an evening that saw Shawn Gray pilot five winners. In Monday’s matinee, the Alicia Gray-trained La Bella Vita N was the public’s overwhelming favourite in the wagering after the would-be favoured Sea Shadows got scratched.

Shawn Gray took the 1-5 shot La Bella Vita N back in the early going in what was a field of five in the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open. The big favourite sat patiently in a first half that went in :56.3. Gray picked up cover with the seven-year-old daughter of Changeover and in a matter of just a few strides, she put the swoop to the group pacing away from her rivals to score in 1:52.2.

For La Bella Vita N, it was victory number nine on the season and her second in the local Fillies and Mares Open. With the earnings from Monday’s score, La Bella Vita N went over the $100,000 mark for the ’22 campaign. The New Zealand invader is owned by Bowie Racing of Shorewood, Illinois and Michael Goldberg Racing LLC of Scituate, Massachusetts.

Live harness racing resumes on Friday evening at Saratoga and will feature some intriguing carryovers. The Pick 5, which begins in Race 1, has a carryover of $2,453. The Jackpot in the Pick 6 has climbed to $10,071 while the Super High 5 Jackpot in the evening’s finale will carry $3,611.  

(With files from Saratoga)