HS Shauna has established herself as one of the top claiming pacing mares at Saratoga Casino Hotel this summer and she won her biggest race of the season to date on Sunday, Aug. 20.
The eight-year-old Up Front Charlie mare was claimed out of the $10,000 claimers last month by owner Mark Rowland for trainer Kyle Spagnola. HS Shauna had been thriving in the $10,000 claimers but after switching connections, stepped up in class. The veteran distaffer scored in the $15,000 claimers before moving up in company once again. After a second and a third-place finish upon stepping up again, HS Shauna drew the rail for Sunday’s try in the optional $20,000 claiming class.
Driver Shawn Gray was content to sit the pocket in Sunday’s $12,500 race, which produced first-half fractions of :26.4 and 56 seconds. The leader, favoured Rockabillycockshut (Luke Hanners), continued to roll along unopposed through three-quarters in 1:23.4 and held the lead until the final strides when HS Shauna surged up the passing lane to win by a head. Rockabillycockshut finished second while longshot Tipperary Hill (Jim Devaux) earned the show spot.
The victory, which was number eight on the season in 27 races for HS Shauna, was clocked in a seasonal best 1:52.4.
HS Shauna paid $10.60 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $23.40 and $106.50, respectively.
Live harness racing resumes on Friday evening at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)