The Pantheist A made her return to Saratoga Casino Hotel a winning one on Friday evening, Aug. 2.
Alicia Gray trains the eight-year-old Bettors Delight mare, who is no stranger to the Spa but has spent much of her season racing at Plainridge Park. Following a trio of tries in Plainridge's top distaff pacing class, The Pantheist A wound up as the 5-2 second choice in the wagering in Saratoga's $20,833 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Friday.
Shawn Gray didn’t waste any time in sending the veteran mare out to the early lead as The Pantheist A cruised unopposed through first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57.1. Pocket-sitting Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) took her shot at the leader in the stretch but wound up coming up
second-best to The Pantheist A, who was a decisive length and a half winner. Longshot Dark Eclipse N (Wally Hennessey) finished third in a mile clocked in 1:53.3, with favoured Arizona (Brett Beckwith) closing from last to fourth.
The Pantheist A paid $7.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $25.80 and $294, respectively.
The win was the fourth in 16 seasonal starts for The Pantheist A, who is owned by Doug Overhiser.
Live harness racing continues on Saturday evening with a first post time set for 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel; photo of The Pantheist A from a previous win)