Royal Lady (Credit Winner) was the runner-up in back-to-back tries in the winners of two but not more than five race lifetime condition at Saratoga Casino Hotel to wrap up the month of September. Since the calendar turned to October, though, the story has been much different for the Melissa Beckwith-trained trotter as she has found the winning way. Royal Lady parlayed pocket trips to wins in successive starts in October leading up to Wednesday’s try in a $10,700 co-feature for New York sired trotters. Driver Mark Beckwith didn’t want another two-hole trip with Royal Lady and subsequently marched on to the lead in the early going with the race’s 1-2 betting favorite. The sophomore filly had her way on the engine but was met with the challenge of Song Chapter (Billy Dobson) in the stretch. Song Chapter got the pocket trip behind the favorite before taking her shot in the stretch. Royal Lady held on to win a photo over Song Chapter in a mile clocked in 1:58.1. The victory was the third in a row and fourth on the season for Royal Lady. The other co-feature saw Sassy Massy (Muscle Mass) spring a mild upset. The Cheryl Whitcroft-trained trotter won in 1:58.4 just one week after setting a lifetime mark of 1:58.3 against similar competition. Sassy Massy was driven to victory by Mark Whitcroft.
Live racing continues on Thursday afternoon featuring a Pick Five guarantee of $5,000. The Pick Five begins in the matinee’s first race and is a 50 cent minimum wager. First post time is set for 12 Noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa SImser-Iovino
