Bye Bye Michelle matched the track record for aged pacing mares in Friday’s feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
The five-year-old Stonebridge Regal mare moved out to the early lead in the ‘Winners Over’ for distaff pacers and withstood a first half that went in a sizzling :54.4. Driver Mark Beckwith asked Bye Bye Michelle for her best heading towards three-quarters and she paced away from her rivals before stopping the timer in 1:52.1, a time that matches the track record for an aged pacing mares. Pocket-sitter Bell On Wheels finished a distant second while Campanile closed for third.
Bye Bye Michelle’s victory, which gave her a new lifetime mark, was her second in as many weeks while going for a purse of $13,000. She is owned and trained by Melissa Beckwith of Wilton, New York.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)