Clear Idea, by American Ideal, returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 17) to compete in the local Fillies and Mares Open. The Blake Macintosh-trained mare has been a winning machine throughout her career and prevailed in her lone try in the local Open back in August.
On Thursday, Clear Idea had Phil Fluet piloting and was the public’s odds-on choice in the wagering despite being assigned Post 6 in the six-horse feature.
There were several ‘leavers’ in the race, thus Clear Idea had to be taken back to last in the early going. She remained there in a first half that was clicked off in :57.1.
The tempo quickened heading to three quarters, and when it did Clear Idea had a hard time keeping up to her cover while second-over.
Come Get The Cash (who was driven by Jay Randall) closed in first-over on the race’s tiring leader; and when pocket-sitting Bye Bye Felicia, last week’s Open winner, flew up the passing lane, it appeared that those two were poised to tell the tale.
Classy distaffer Clear Idea shifted gears a bit again in the stretch and surged up on the outside approaching the wire. When the dust settled, it was Clear Idea that emerged victorious in 1:55.3 over a track labelled ‘sloppy.’
Clear Idea (6), pictured victorious at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Oct. 17, 2019.
Bye Bye Felicia was the runner-up in the contest, while Come Get The Cash earned the show spot to keep her ‘on the board’ streak alive.
Clear Idea’s victory was No. 21 in 83 career starts for the five-year-old Macintosh trainee. The victory was also the second of the day for Fluet, who captured the undercard feature when he guided longshot Surreal Feeling to an upset score in the $14,000 Winners Over for fillies and mares. Surreal Feeling paid $33.40 to win while hanging on in 1:56.1.
Live racing at ‘the Spa’ will resume on Saturday evening. First post will be at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)