Bettor Notbitter A (Bettor’s Delight) recorded his first Open Pace victory at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night. The Patti Harmon-trained pacer drew post position two for his third try in the local Open and driver Jay Randall didn’t waste any time showing speed with a horse who has thrived as a closer in his local starts. Bettor Notbitter A was the public’s 3-5 betting favorite on Saturday just two weeks removed from a second-place finish in the $18,000 Open. Randall moved the seven year old Australian-invader out to the front in the feature and once they got there, it was over. Bettor Notbitter A cruised to the front in 27.3 before clicking off a half 56.1. The Harmon trainee padded his lead after checking in at three quarters in 1:24.4 and drew away to win by four lengths to record his first score in the Spa feature. Redbank Blaze A (Billy Dobson) finished second in his Saratoga debut while Funknwaffles (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot. Bettor Notbitter A stopped the timer in 1:52.2, a time that serves as a new lifetime mark for the pacer who now has a pair of wins and a second-place finish in his five starts since coming over from Australia. Harmon and Randall teamed up for a victory in Thursday afternoon’s Open for fillies and mares as well as The Charging Moa N proved dominant in her local debut.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon and will feature a Pick Five carryover of $5,584. The Pick Five starts in race one which is scheduled for 12 noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
