Demeter N went coast-to-coast to score her first victory in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon.
Larry Stalbaum trains and drives the seven-year-old distaffer after acquiring her last month. In Monday’s $16,000 feature, Demeter N powered out to the early lead as the race’s 4-5 betting favourite. Demeter N paced a leisurely first half of :58 and then had plenty left to hold off a mild threat from pocket-sitting Shallow (Brian Cross) in the stretch.
Last week’s Open winner Birch Island Betty had the daunting task of coming from last in a back-half that went in :55.4 before having to settle for third. Demeter’s 1:53.4 win time matched the seasonal-best clocking she set in April at Yonkers Raceway.
Demeter N is owned by the Shark Racing Stable of Bainbridge, New York.
Live racing resumes on Friday evening starting at 6:45 p.m. as the summer portion of the racing schedule gets underway. That schedule consists of Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening racing with first posts set for 6:45 p.m. each night.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)