Laurie Lee found success in Saratoga Raceway's Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Monday afternoon, Nov. 11 when the seven-year-old daughter of Royel Millennium went coast-to-coast in the $20,833 feature.
Jimmy Devaux piloted the Peter Pellegrino trainee, a two-time Mares Open winner at Monticello Raceway this past summer and runner-up the last two times she raced in Saratoga's top distaff pace. But on Monday, she would not settle for second-best at The Spa.
Devaux put the 5-2 shot in play early, moving Laurie Lee out to the lead in fast first-half fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before being faced with a challenge from the race’s favourite, Arizona (Wally Hennessey), who went first-over approaching the three-quarter pole in 1:25. Laurie Lee was up to the task and held off the late bid from the favourite before stopping the timer in 1:54.1 for her eighth win of a 30-start campaign in 2024. Arizona was a strong second to continue her sensational season while Magical Maya A (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot.
Laurie Lee gave her owner, June Hamerla, and her trainer, Pellegrino, a double on the day as their Lindys Lolita went wire-to-wire in an $11,111 conditioned pace for fillies and mares. Devaux piloted Lindys Lolita to her Monday score and sat behind a total of three winners on the day.
Laurie Lee paid $7 in her score and led an exacta with the favourite second that returned $14.80. The triple in the Open came back $67 for a $2 wager.
Live harness racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)