Little Santamonica (Little Steven) has always loved competing at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the talented mare has always done her best work on the front end. In Friday night’s $13,000 Fillies and Mares Open, the Jordan Hope trainee moved out to the lead. Driver Jimmy Devaux, who has said that Little Santamonica is one of his favorite horses as she always gives premium effort, gave the nine year old a second quarter breather before she was tested approaching three quarters. Little Santamonica recorded her seventh victory of the season as she held off pocket sitter Keene Olivia (Billy Dobson) and longshot Quick Draft A (Frank Coppola Jr) to prevail in 1:53.1. The race’s 6-5 co-favorite in the wagering led an exacta and triple that paid $27.80 and $189, respectively. It was career win number 42 for Little Santamonica who earlier in the season paced the fastest mile of the year for distaffers when she stopped the timer in 1:51.4 in her previous Open win.
Live racing continues on Saturday night with a 6:45pm first post time.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
