Ontario-sired Ella V Horse went coast to coast on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway to prevail in the local feature for fillies and mares for the first time.
Stephane Bouchard piloted the Andy Sardella-trained Royal Mattjesty mare and, following a third-place finish in last week’s $15,000 Winners Over Pace for distaffers, moved the eight-year-old out to the early lead. After enjoying a hassle-free first half that went in :57.2, Ella V Horse stepped on the gas in the final lap and cruised to a wire-to-wire score in 1:52.3.
The victory was the fourth in the last five starts for the mare, who was claimed two weeks ago by owners Mike and Bill Pozefsky and Myron Eckstein, all of the scores coming while on the front end. C
ampanile (Austin Siegelman) was a pocket-sitting second on Friday night while Super Soph (Frank Coppola Jr.) earned the show spot.
Ella V Horse returned $9.10 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $25.80 and $53.50.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)