Arizona is looking to become the first distaffer to win the award for Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel in back-to-back seasons since Dandy’s Jewel achieved the feat in 2007-2008. The Melissa Beckwith trainee was the winner of the top award for lady pacers in ’24 and on Tuesday afternoon, the talented six-year-old won for the eleventh time of the year and ninth time in the local Open. With Chris Long in the sulky, Arizona flashed early speed from post four in the $18,500 Open before setting first-half fractions of 27.3 and 56.3 while traveling unopposed. The Beckwith trainee rattled off three quarters in 1:25.1 before pacing away from the competition to record a two-and-a-quarter length victory in 1:54.2. Pocket-sitter Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) came up a well-beaten second in the feature while Waitforever N (Aaron Byron) earned the show spot for the second straight week in the Open. Arizona has earned well into six figures for the second consecutive year and with nine Open wins at the Spa becomes the clear favorite to be named top lady pacer once again this year. Arizona is owned by Wendy Timpano.
Live racing continues on Wednesday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12pm.
