The annual Virginia O'Brien Memorial Pacing Series for fillies and mares at Saratoga Casino Hotel got underway with the first leg on Wednesday, April 23. Now in its tenth year, the springtime series featured three divisions, each racing for a purse of $13,889.
In the opening division, Little Instigator (Heston Blue Chip–Last Time To Play) lived up to her 1-9 favouritism with a dominant performance. The Joe Skowyra-trained filly, who made a successful local debut on April 16, was even more impressive this time, pacing to a career-best 1:55.2 with Matt Athearn in the sulky. Little Instigator (pictured above) now boasts five wins in eight career starts for William MacMillan and Sarah MacMillan of Glenwood, MD.
Wayward Blue Chip (Tall Dark Stranger–Warrawee Sunshine) turned in a gutsy pocket-trip performance to win her division. Driven by Jimmy Devaux for trainer Dale Lawton, Wayward Blue Chip followed upset-minded Cindys Faith (Larry Stalbaum) before surging past her to score in a new lifetime best of 1:56. The 8-5 favourite notched her third win of the season. She is owned by Chris Lawton of Vernon, N.Y., and Dale Lawton of Verona, N.Y.
The final division went to Captain Catch (Captain Crunch-Onethatgotaway). Trained by Michelle Warner and driven by Brett Beckwith, Captain Catch came from off the pace to secure her fourth win in five starts with Beckwith in the bike. The four-year-old mare clocked a winning time of 1:57.4 in the third division of the series for owner Michael Moore of Old Westbury, N.Y.
The Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series will continue with two more legs leading up to the final, which is scheduled for next month.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at the Spa with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)