A trio of second-leg divisions of the Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series was contested during Thursday’s (April 25) matinee program at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The $10,000 divisions provided the fillies and mares with their last opportunities to earn points towards next week’s $30,000 (added) final. The series is currently wide open heading into the final. The series has not seen repeat winner thus far through the preliminary legs, and none of the Thursday favourites ultimately prevailed in their second-leg tasks.
The fastest winner in Thursday’s second leg was Mississippi Charm, by Mach Three, who set a lifetime mark by overcoming a long first-over journey to prevail in 1:56. Jay Randall piloted the Andy Sardella trainee. Mississippi Charm had made a break while racing as the public’s choice in the first leg, but she avenged that miscue with a resounding victory Thursday. She drew away to win by two and a half lengths and bested the race’s 1-5 betting favourite Jayda Nicole in the process. Mississippi Charm likely punched her ticket to next week’s final via the Thursday effort, in which she paid $8.30 to win. The win was of three on the card for Randall.
Mississippi Charm, pictured victorious at Saratoga Casino Hotel on April 25, 2019.
Reflexionofroyalty, by American Ideal, continued her winning ways during Leg 2, as she secured her fifth victory in what was her eighth seasonal try. Jimmy Devaux sat behind the Allen Sisco-trained four-year-old who came from well off the pace to spring the upset at odds of 7-1. Reflexionofroyalty paid $16.80 to win.
Unusual Clarity, by Betterthancheddar, sprung a mild upset of her own in Leg 2. Mark Beckwiith piloted the Paul Minckler-trained mare to victory. Having gotten up to win in 1:56.1, Unusual Clarity recorded the fastest of her three seasonal scores on Thursday. She followed the Leg 2 trend of winners coming from off the tempo to prevail. Unusual Clarity returned $9.80 to win and secured her spot in next week’s final.
Live racing at Saratoga will resume on Saturday evening with a first post time of 6:45 p.m. There will be a Pick Five carryover of $1,977 into Saturday night’s pool. The Pick Five will get underway in the evening’s first race.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)