Quick Draft A (Art Major) prevailed in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on a beautiful Thursday afternoon (February 23) in the Spa City.
The Australian-bred mare was making her local debut and just her third start in the U.S. and went off as the co-favourite at even-money in the $12,000 feature.
Driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. moved her aggressively to the lead and the seven-year-old distaffer clicked off an opening quarter of a sizzling :26.4. Quick Draft A continued to pace quickly through the middle half and, after checking in at three-quarters in 1:24, had enough left to secure a length victory over Annabeth (Mark Beckwith). The track’s defending Pacing Mare of the Year, So Nice (Billy Dobson), was co-favoured with the winner, but had to settle for third in her return to the Spa.
The win time of 1:53 easily served as a new lifetime mark for Quick Draft A, who is owned by the Blindswitch Racing Stable and trained by Al Annunziata.
Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon with a matinee set to kick off at 12:15 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)