With no Open on the docket on the Monday card at Saratoga Casino Hotel, a conditional race for fillies and mares served as the matinee’s feature. Five of the distaffers who took part in the $11,500 feature were droppers who competed in the Open in their previous race. HS Shauna (Up Front Charlie) drew the rail for her try just one week removed from a second-place finish in the Fillies and Mares Open.
Phil Fluet piloted the Kyle Spagnola trainee who yielded the early lead to fellow dropper Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) before retaking the top spot in a 27.3 first quarter. That tandem saw the favored Shecandance N (Brett Beckwith) rush up on the outside to challenge but after pacing the first half in just 58 seconds, HS Shauna rebuffed the bid from the favorite putting that one away around the final turn.
Pocket sitter Alittlesidehustl N took a run at the leader in the stretch but her closing effort came up just shy as HS Shauna stopped the timer in 1:55.4 to record her tenth win of the season. Alittlesidehustl N was the runner-up while Shecandance N salvaged the third spot. HS Shauna paid $8 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $51.50 and $158, respectively. The winner is owned by Mark Rowland of Albany, NY.
Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon when the matinee kicks off at noon.
Mike Sardella
Jessica Hallett photo
Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York
