Betabcool N (Bettor’s Delight) became the first distaffer to win the Fillies and Mares Open three times in 2018 when on Friday night she went coast to coast. Bruce Aldrich Jr. piloted the Jose Godinez trainee who powered out to the top in a fast 26.4 first quarter. Despite not getting a significant breather at any point in the mile, Betabcool N held strong throughout and hung on to win in 1:53.2 in the $14,500 Friday feature. The favored Tempus Seelster (Billy Dobson) raced first over on the Open’s eventual winner and wound up as the runner-up while Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr), who had won the previous two installments of the local Open, came on to finish third. Each of the top three finishers on Friday night had two victories in the Open this year before Betabcool N moved her tally to three behind the wire-to-wire victory in the seventh Fillies and Mares Open to be contested this season.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino