Lovineveryminute (Western Paradise) took her second crack of the season at the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Friday night. The Rene Allard trainee tried going wire-to-wire in her first start in the $14,500 feature for distaffers earlier in the month but faded late in the mile to a sixth-place defeat. On Friday night, Lovineveryminute blasted off the car early and yielded to the race’s favorite Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr). The track’s most dominant lady pacer of 2018, Spreester had gone five for seven in the local Open coming into Friday night’s try and was thus the 3-5 betting favorite in the race. After cruising through a first half of a quick 56.1, Spreester got tested by a first-over Diamondtoothgertie (Phil Fluet). Those two squared off for better than a quarter of a mile and all the while Lovineveryminute was waiting patiently for the open stretch. Driver Jordan Derue guided Lovineveryminute into the passing lane and the seven year old surged past her rivals to win in 1:52.3, the fastest clocking for any pacing mare thus far this year at Saratoga. Diamondtoothgertie finished second while Spreester had to settle for third. Lovineveryminute returned $7.70 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $24.60 and $59, respectively.
Live racing continues on Saturday night with first post time set for 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
