Sally Fletcher A (American Ideal) scored in the Fillies and Mares Open for the second consecutive Friday night at Saratoga as the Jose Godinez trainee rolled to a front-running victory in 1:53.3. Bruce Aldrich Jr. piloted Sally Fletcher A and wasted no time retaking the lead after briefly giving way to invader Culinary Delight N (Larry Stalbaum). Happy Heart (Mark Beckwith), who was the runner-up to Sally Fletcher A in last week’s installment of the $16,000 Open for distaffers after edging her out the week before, got away last in the five-horse feature on Friday. She closed sharply when called upon on Friday but was no match for Sally Fletcher A who recorded her seventh win of the season and did so at odds of 6-5. Happy Heart was the runner-up once again this week while Culinary Delight N had to settle for third. The Sally Fletcher A- Happy Heart exacta, which has come in in a box for three consecutive weeks now, paid $13.40. Aldrich, Godinez and the Blindswitch Racing Stable teamed up for a second winner on the card when their Poppy Drayton N lived up to the hype as the 1-9 betting favorite in a $8,000 conditional race for fillies and mares.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at the Spa with a 6:45pm first post.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
