The featured field was reduced to five participants after a scratch on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open featured 1-5 betting favorite Bontz N (Billy Dobson) who went wire-to-wire in her local debut last week (August 23rd) while competing in the Winners Over for distaffers. On Friday night, she made her first start in the Open and moved out to the early lead though she paced a first quarter in a quick 27 seconds. Bontz N continued to cruise quickly on the engine and after reaching the half in 55.4 was met with the challenge of Come Get The Cash (Jay Randall). Come Get The Cash paced a final half of 54.4 last week while coming up just shy of reeling in Bontz N when they squared off for the first time. In Friday’s feature, the power surge from the John Macdonald-trained Come Get The Cash would prove to be more than enough as she overpowered the favorite and drew away in the stretch before stopping the timer in a career-best 1:53.1. Bontz N held strong for second while Surreal Feeling (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Come Get The Cash paid $9.20 to win in her upset victory and led an exacta with the favorite second that returned $15.40. The win was the fourth of the season in fifteen tries for the four year old who has really come into her own in the past few months and now adds Open winner to her resume.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05pm. There will be a Pick Five carryover of $1,384 on Saturday with the Pick Five beginning in the evening’s first race.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
