Canadian-owned pacing mare Arizona has enjoyed another strong season with trainer Mark Beckwith. The five-year-old Up The Credit mare, who won 15 races in 2023, has become a force in the Fillies and Mares Open at both Plainridge Park and Saratoga Casino Hotel this season.

Arizona won three consecutive Opens to begin her summer but encountered a bit of a dry stretch of late having been a beaten favourite in three consecutive Opens and in five of her last six. On Friday, Aug. 30, Arizona dropped in company to compete in a $13,513 conditioned race at Saratoga, one that served as the feature with no Open on the docket.

Leading driver Brett Beckwith is the regular reinsman for Arizona who was the 1-5 betting favourite off the drop in class when she rushed up to take over the lead past the opening quarter that went in :28.2. The four-time winner of the local Mares Open this year cruised through a fast middle half before checking in at three-quarters in 1:24.1 while travelling unopposed. Arizona paced out to an insurmountable lead in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:52.4 as a 4-1/2-length winner. Fellow Open dropper HS Shauna (Shawn Gray) came on to finish second while Dark Eclipse N (Wally Hennessey) earned the show spot.

A 27-time career winner, Arizona is owned by Wendy Timpano of Campbellville, Ont. 

Live harness racing continues on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5 p.m. 

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)