On a night filled with longshot winners at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tataria upset in the $14,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace.
One of three winners on the card for driver Mark Beckwith, Tataria sat the pocket behind Tipitina (Frank Coppola Jr.), who set fast fractions on the front end. Surging up the inside in the stretch, Tataria stopped the timer in a lifetime-best 1:52, scoring at odds of 7-1. Tipitina wound up second-best while the favoured Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) had to settle for third.
It was the first Open victory for Tataria, who debuted at Saratoga for trainer/owner Melissa Beckwith earlier in the meet. The five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark mare notched win number six in 20 tries in 2017 and paid $16.80 to win. The exacta and triple with the favourites underneath returned $111.50 and $329.50, respectively.
Six of the winners on the 10-race program paid $14 or more to win with one paying as much as $58.50.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)