Happy Heart came into the May 2 feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel having recorded a pair of second-place finishes in the Open Pace for fillies and mares this season. Thursday proved to be her day.
The Melissa Beckwith trainee had scored three victories in the local feature last season, and on Thursday recorded her first of the year, as she closed sharply up the inside in the five-horse Open.
Brian Cross picked up the catch-drive and sat third throughout the mile with Happy Heart before the rail opened up at the top of the stretch.
Happy Heart (2), pictured victorious at Saratoga Casino Hotel on May 2, 2019.
With the race’s odds-on favourite, Coveredndiamonds N (driven by Jay Randall), starting to tire on the lead, the pocket-sitting Westsluckycam (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) moved to the outside turning for home. The passing lane opened up for Happy Heart, who had been dismissed at odds of 7-1.
The six-year-old mare surged up the rail and scored in 1:54.1. Westsluckycam finished second, while Coveredndiamonds N had to settle for third in the $15,000 Open.
Happy Heart paid $17.20 to win and led an exacta that returned $90.00.
Live racing will resume on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)