Newsy N finished second in her lone start in the local Fillies and Mares Open last year at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

On Monday afternoon, the six-year-old New Zealand import drew post three and was installed as the morning line favourite for her try in the $17,000 feature for distaffers.

Ron Cushing powered the talented daughter of Bettors Delight out to the front end as she worked hard in lap one covering the first half in :57.1 before being met with the challenge of the race’s 3-5 betting favourite, Wahs Fire Bug N (Jimmy Devaux), who came powering up alongside the leader past the half.

Those two squared off, trading strides for close to a half mile before Newsy N proved best in a mile clocked in 1:54.3. Wahs Fire Bug N was a game second while Fond Memories A (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot.

Newsy N paid $7.80 to win as the second choice in the wagering.  Newsy N is co-owned by Ron Cushing and Kevin Sywyk and trained by Heidi Gibbs.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5 p.m. There will be a carryover in the early Pick Five of $2,311. Each race card now features two Pick Fives, one made up of the first five races on the card and the other comprising the final five races on the program.

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)