Campanile made her return to the winner’s circle in Friday’s (March 25) feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
The veteran pacing mare has been a Spa staple for the past several years and always thrives against the track’s top distaffers.
The Chris Marino trainee got off to a fast start in the $13,000 Winners Over Pace and settled into the pocket behind last week’s feature winner So Nice (Mark Beckwith). Driver Austin Siegelman moved the race’s 4-5 betting favourite out to the lead after an opening quarter paced in :27.2. Campanile cruised uncontested through a half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 before being met with the challenge of So Nice in the stretch. The seven-year-old No Pan Intended mare was up to the task and prevailed by a length and a half, covering the 1-1/16 miles in 2:00.4. So Nice was a solid second in the Friday feature while Fancy Desire (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot.
The win was the already the fifth of the season for Campanile, who is owned by Michael Casalino Jr.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)