Always Watching all but cemented her title as local Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon, Dec. 11 when the standout distaffer won the Open once again.

Jordan Derue owns, trains and drives the five-year-old Hes Watching mare, who took the featured field coast-to-coast in 1:55.2. Always Watching’s win was her ninth of the year in the $15,000 ladies Open and her 10th on the year overall from 26 starts.

Pammy Jo (Shawn Gray) got the pocket ride to the winner and wound up as the runner-up to complete a $21.60 exacta. So Diva (Chris Long) earned the show spot in a triple that paid $82.50.

Always Watching is not only a lock to earn the Spa's Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year title but has to be considered the front-runner for the track's Horse of the Year Award as well. The talented mare has now put together back-to-back seasons in which she won 10 races and collected more than $100,000 in earnings for Derue. 

Live harness racing will resume on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5 p.m. There will be a Pick 5 carryover of $5,412 in the early Pick 5, which will begin in race one.  

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)