Probert, a two-time B.C. Breeders Stakes champion, made her debut at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon (May 2) a winning one as she topped a group of six distaffers in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open feature.
Probert made her Spa debut and wound up as the 3-5 betting favourite in the ladies’ feature. Wally Hennessey sat behind the five-year-old mare for current trainer Melissa Beckwith, who recorded a second and a third place finish in two starts with the mare while racing at Plainridge last month.
Hennessey wasted very little time moving the five-year-old daughter of Dali out to the early lead on Monday and gave her a nice breather in the second quarter before reaching the half in 58 seconds. From there, the speedy Probert powered through a third quarter in 27 seconds flat before being met with the challenge of Birch Island Betty (Chris Long) in the stretch. After getting a pocket ride behind the Open’s favourite, Birch Island Betty powered out of the two-hole and made a run at Probert in the stretch before coming up short by just a head in 1:53.
The winner, who came a back half in 55 seconds flat, is owned by Howard Jacobs, Jim Winske and Marcus Kemblowski.
Probert paid $3.40 to win. The exacta with Birch Island Betty second came back $34.40 while the triple, which was completed by Dashintothebeach N (Jimmy Devaux), returned $105.50.
Hennessey piloted three winners on the Monday matinee card.
Live racing resumes on Saturday night at Saratoga and features a Pick 5 carryover of $3,401. The Pick 6 Jackpot sits at $7,013. The Pick 6 encompasses race eight through 13 on the program that starts at 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga)