Racine Bell delivered in her move up to the Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Wednesday (March 17) at Saratoga Casino Hotel, off a decisive victory in the $10,000 Winners Over for distaffers last week.
The Dave Dewhurst-trained mare, who won the Open twice in 2020, drew post 6 in the six-horse Open this week and was asked for early speed from driver Brian Cross to overcome the outside post. The four-year-old former NY Sire Stakes stalwart worked hard to get to the top but made the front after a :27.3 first quarter. Cross then gave the race’s 1-2 favourite a bit of a second-quarter breather as they reached the half in :57.2.
Without facing a legit challenge, Racine Bell drew off from her rivals while clicking off three-quarters in 1:26 and opening what wound up being an insurmountable lead. Pammy Jo, the runner-up to Racine Bell last week and also in the Open contested two weeks ago, wound up coming from off the pace to be second once again. The Charging Moa N sat the pocket to the winner, but got outpaced heading to three-quarters before ending up finishing third.
Racine Bell reported home a two-length winner and led an exacta and triple that paid $4.60 and $14.60, respectively, in a chalky feature. Racine Bell is owned by Chris and Dale Lawton of New York.
Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon (March 22) and will feature some carryovers/jackpots for bettors to shoot for. There is a Pick-5 carryover of $4,005 starting in the first race of the day. The jackpots in the Jackpot Pick 6 and the Jackpot Super High 5 continue to grow as well. They sit at $4,150 for the Jackpot Pick 6 and $4,704 for the Jackpot High 5.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)