Saqqara Dream blazed her way into the 2009 record books on Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack thanks to her 1:53.3 victory over the seven-eighths mile oval.
It was a new lifetime mark for Saqqara Dream, and it goes down as the fastest mile in North America for an older trotting mare. The previous 2009 record of 1:54.1 was set earlier this year at Woodbine by Scottish Cross, and Buck I St Pat equaled that clocking earlier on Friday evening at The Meadowlands.
Luc Ouellette guided Saqqara Dream, a four-year-old daughter of Andover Hall, into the pocket while Countess Stormont rolled the field to the quarter pole in :27.3. Ouellette had the Ben Baillargeon-trained trotter off the rail as soon as they hit the backstretch and she proceeded to throw down middle panels of :56.2 and 1:24.3.
A :29-second final frame was more than enough for Saqqara Dream to notch the victory in the $23,000 conditioned event for female trotters.
It was the eighth lifetime victory for the career winner of $96,097, who is owned by LLC Deo Volente Farms of Flemington, New Jersey.
To view Friday’s results, click here.