September may not have been Royal Lady’s month, but it appears as though the filly is really taking to October.
Royal Lady (Credit Winner) was the runner-up in back-to-back tries in the ‘winners of two, but not more than five race lifetime’ condition at Saratoga Casino Hotel to wrap up the month of September. Since the calendar turned to October, though, the story has been much different for the Melissa Beckwith-trained trotter, as she has found the winning way.
Royal Lady parlayed pocket trips to wins in successive starts in October leading up to Wednesday’s try in a $10,700 co-feature for New York-sired trotters.
Driver Mark Beckwith didn’t want another two-hole trip with Royal Lady and subsequently marched on to the lead in the early going with the race’s 1-2 betting favourite.
The sophomore filly had her way on the engine, but was met with the challenge of Song Chapter (driven by Billy Dobson) in the stretch. Song Chapter got the pocket trip behind the favourite before taking her shot in the stretch. Royal Lady held on to win in a photo over Song Chapter in a mile that was clocked in 1:58.1.
The victory was the third in a row and fourth of the season for Royal Lady.
Live racing at ‘the Spa’ will continue on Thursday afternoon and will feature a Pick Five guarantee of $5,000. The Pick Five will begin in the matinee’s first race and is a 50-cent minimum wager.
First post time is set for 12 noon.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)