Bye Bye Michelle (Stonebridge Regal) prevailed in the $10,600 feature for filly and mare pacers at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Friday night. Dan Cappello Jr. piloted the Andy Sardella-trained mare who drew the rail in the optional $20,000 claimer for distaffers and powered the six year old out to the early lead. Despite setting fast fractions throughout, Bye Bye Michelle scooted away from her rivals late in the mile before stopping the timer in 1:53.3 on a chilly night in the Spa City. The three mares other than the winner that showed Open lines on the program finished second, third and fourth as Bettorhaveanother (Frank Coppola Jr), Bazooka Terror (Billy Dobson) and Dilly Dali (Bruce Aldrich Jr) finished behind Bye Bye Michelle who recorded her eighth win of the season. Sardella went two-for-two on the night as his Ella V Horse (Royal Mattjesty) went coast to coast in 1:54.4 with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky in the optional $10,000 claimer for fillies and mares on Friday night. Both Bye Bye Michelle and Ella V Horse are owned by Mike and Bill Pozefsky and Myron Ekstein.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
