Sea Shadows (Shadow Play) made her debut out of the Melissa Beckwith stable a winning one on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The seven year old distaffer didn’t factor in her first start at the Spa this season when in the Fillies and Mares Open on May 16^th, she finished sixth in a seven-horse feature. A talented mare who came into Monday’s try in the Open as a seven-time winner in 2022 after competing primarily at Pompano Park in Florida before traveling north this spring, Sea Shadows was put in gear in the early going by driver Wally Hennessey who powered to the front-end with the race’s 2-1 second choice in the wagering.

The fractions in the feature were fast but despite posting a first half in 56.2, Sea Shadows (Shadow Play) showed no signs of letting up and in fact began to draw away from the race’s favorite, pocket-sitting Luck B Mine (Jimmy Devaux) approaching three quarters before powering out to win by four lengths in 1:52.3. Luck B Mine finished second while All Speed Rising (Justin Huckabone) earned the show spot. For Sea Shadows, it was win number eight on the campaign to match her win total from the ’21 season. She is owned by Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs. Beckwith and Hennessey followed up the victory in the feature with another win on Monday as Party Queen prevailed in a $10,500 for pacing mares in the race that followed the Open on the ten-race card.

Live racing resumes on Friday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5PM.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Dashintothebeach N (Somebeachsomewhere) is in the midst of her breakout season and the Brett Derue trainee put in her best career performance on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Dashintothebeach N rattled off a lengthy winning streak earlier in the 2022 campaign but came into Monday’s try in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open off back-to-back tries when a beaten favorite in the track’s top race for distaffers. Dashintothebeach N got the lead that she likes on Monday and never relinquished.

The five year old went a first half in 56.1 before cruising past three quarters in 1:24.1. The Derue-trained mare braced for the challenge of pocket-sitter Birch Island Betty (Chris Long) around the final turn and held her off in the late stages of what wound up being a lifetime-best 1:52.4 score in the feature. It was the second Open victory and ninth win overall on the season for Dashintothebeach N who paid $8.90 to win in the mild upset.

Birch Island Betty was the runner-up to complete a $56 exacta while last week’s Open winner Chasethecloudsaway (Luke Hanners) came on to finish third in a triple that returned $275.50. Dashintothebeach N is owned in partnership by Steve Picarazzi of Clifton Park, NY and her trainer Brett Derue of Queensbury, NY.

Live racing will resume at Saratoga on Friday evening with a first post time of 5PM.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach) is the winningest horse in Opens this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the Chris Petrelli-trained distaffer scored another victory in the Fillies and Mares Open on Monday afternoon. A sixteen-time winner in her breakout 2021 campaign, Chasethecloudsaway has proven last season was no fluke.

On Monday, the five year old powered out to the early lead in the $16,050 feature for the ladies, getting to the top in a fast first quarter of 27.2. The 4-5 betting favorite got a bit of a breather in the middle half before being asked for her best around the final turn by driver Luke Hanners. Chasethecloudsaway kicked away late and wound up reporting home a winner by a length. Last year’s Saratoga Horse of the Year Surreal Feeling (Alek Chartrand) drew post eight in the nine-horse Open and came charging hard late to be second while So Diva (Brett Crawford) closed to finish third.

Chasethecloudsaway’s win was her fifth in the local Open this year to put her in the lead among all Open horses, both pacer and trotter, for most victories in the feature in ’22. On Monday, she paid $3.60 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $23 and $239.50, respectively. Chasethecloudsaway is owned by David Del Pozzo of Methuen, MA.

Live racing resumes on Friday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5PM.

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Luck B Mine (Bettor’s Delight) scored her first Open win at Saratoga Casino Hotel last season when the John Podres trainee prevailed against the track’s top pacing mares in a feature in mid-September. Following up her career year of 2021 hasn’t been easy for Luck B Mine but she has rediscovered her top form of late and found herself in the Fillies and Mares Open again on Monday afternoon. The five year old was dismissed at odds of 15-1 despite drawing post two for her try in the $15,000 Open. Driver Leon Bailey found some early speed from the talented distaffer and positioned her in the pocket behind the race’s favorite Dashintothebeach N (Jimmy Devaux).

An eight-time winner in ’22, Dashintothebeach N was the public choice in the Open for distaffers for the second consecutive week and cruised unopposed through a first half in 56.4. The leader was met with the challenge of upset-minded Luck B Mine around the final turn and those two slugged it out in the stretch before Luck B Mine took over, eventually stopping the timer in 1:54.1 to set a new lifetime mark. Dashintothebeach N finished second while Chasethecloudsaway (Luke Hanners) earned the show spot.

Luck B Mine’s second career win in the local Open was her second victory of the ’22 campaign. The Podres trainee paid $32.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $100 and $213.50, respectively. The winner is owned by Steve Guido of Cicero, NY and Don Stockwell of Hudson Falls, NY.

Live racing resumes on Friday evening with Fridays being added to the racing calendar for the next months. First post time on Fridays will be 5PM. This week, there will be a Pick Five carryover of $3,513. The Pick Six Jackpot is up to one of its largest since the wager was instituted last year at Saratoga. The Jackpot is up to $11,417. It is a 20 cent wager.

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

The 7^th annual Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series was a short one this year at Saratoga Casino Hotel. With only enough fillies and mares entered to comprise one leg, the series concluded with Monday’s Final which consisted of just four lady pacers. New Zealand invader Alittlesidehustl N (He’s Watching) has been a monster in her first season in the U.S. and came into the series a winner of four of her five local starts. In her race leading up to the O’Brien Series, the Jackie Greene-trained Alittlesidehustl N won by seven lengths and paced in a career-best 1:53.4. In the lone leg of the series, the four year old got up in the final stride to score in 1:54.1 to end the impressive win streak of rival Watermelon Sugar (Brian Cross) who wound up as the runner-up. On Monday, those two squared off once again in a four-horse series Final that went for a purse of $32,000 and drew posts one and two, respectively.

Alittlesidehustl N continued her trend of being the betting favorite of odds of 2-5 or less in each of her local starts as she was the public’s 2-5 choice in Monday’s Final when she sat the pocket to upset minded Zebs Watching (Jimmy Devaux). Watermelon Sugar (Brian Cross), the runner-up to Alittlesidehustl N in the lone leg of the series, charged hard at Zebs Watching around the final turn while longshot Allboutthematerial was unwinding on the outside for driver Wally Hennessey. Alittlesidehustl N got loose late in the stretch and surged up the passing lane. The favorite got up in time to score in 1:54.1 to move her seasonal record to six for eight while scoring the biggest victory of her young career. Allboutthematerial closed to finish second and complete an exacta that paid $25.40. Watermelon Sugar finished third while Zebs Watching rounded things out. Alittlesidehustl N is owned in partnership by the Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene Stables.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a 5PM first post.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Cheyanne Mandy

Monday afternoon’s feature saw a group of six distaffers take part in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Probert (Dali) made her Spa debut and wound up as the 3-5 betting favorite in the ladies’ feature. Wally Hennessey sat behind the five year old mare for trainer Melissa Beckwith who recorded a second and a third place finish in two starts with the mare while racing at Plainridge last month.

Hennessey wasted very little time moving the favorite out to the early lead on Monday and gave her a nice breather in the second quarter before reaching the half in 58 seconds. From there, the speedy Probert powered through a third quarter in 27 seconds flat before being met with the challenge of Birch Island Betty (Chris Long) in the stretch. After getting a pocket ride behind the Open’s favorite, Birch Island Betty powered out of the two-hole and made a run at Probert in the stretch before coming up short by just a head in 1:53.

The winner, who came a back half in 55 seconds flat, is owned by Howard Jacobs, Jim Winske and Marcus Kemblowski. Probert paid $3.40 to win. The exacta with Birch Island Betty second came back $34.40 while the triple which was completed by Dashintothebeach N (Jimmy Devaux) returned $105.50. Hennessey piloted three winners on the Monday matinee card.

Live racing resumes on Saturday night at Saratoga and features a Pick Five carryover of $3,401. The Pick Six Jackpot sits at $7,013. The Pick Six encompasses race 8-13 on the program that starts at 5PM.

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Watermelon Sugar (Huntsville) extended her impressive win streak on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the Brian Cross-trained and driven filly continues to dazzle in her first season on the track. Watermelon Sugar stepped up into the $10,500 winners of two but not more than five race lifetime condition last week (April 19) and scored a career-best victory. On Monday, the three year old was tasked with taking on a big favorite in her race and despite coming in on a five race win streak, Watermelon Sugar was the second choice in the wagering. With the favorite on the front end, Brian Cross sat patiently with his stable’s newest star before unleashing her approaching the half mile pole. Watermelon Sugar surged right past the favorite before opening up an imposing lead at the three quarter pole and going on to win in 1:54.2, a new lifetime mark. The filly will head into next week’s Virginia O’Brien Pacing Series as the one to beat being that she will be riding a six-race win streak for owner Brian Rozell of Queensbury, NY. In her most recent victory, Watermelon Sugar paid $5.80 to win and moved her seasonal bankroll to over the $40,000 mark in just nine starts.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5PM.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach) has been a force in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel early in the season. A winning machine in 2021, the Chris Petrelli-trained distaffer has gotten off to a great start to her ’22 campaign as well. After winning three consecutive tries in the feature for mares in February, Chasethecloudsaway went on a two-race “losing streak” which is only noteworthy due to the fact that she has won 19 times in ’21-’22 heading into her most recent start. On Monday afternoon, the five year old came from off the pace as the race’s favorite Dashintothebeach N (Jimmy Devaux) cut the mile in her debut in the Open. That one cruised through a first half in 57.1 before being confronted by longshot Mckella (Shawn Gray) who took to the first-over path in an attempt to reel in the favorite who is the winningest horse in the young meet at the Spa. Chasethecloudsaway followed the cover until tipping off of it around the final turn as Dashintothebeach N appeared vulnerable late in the mile. The race’s second choice in the wagering at odds of 5-2, Chasethecloudsaway displayed that nose for the finish line and ranged up in time to score in the feature, stopping the timer in 1:54.1 for a new seasonal mark. Dashintothebeach N showed herself well in her debut in the Open and finished second while Mckella earned the show spot. The exacta and triple in the race returned $17 and $118.50, respectively. Chasethecloudsaway, who is now four-for-six in the $15,000 ladies’ feature this season, paid $7.60 for the win on Monday. She is owned by David Del Pozzo of Methuen, MA and was piloted to her feature score by Luke Hanners.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a thirteen-race card set to begin at 5PM.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Another Monday afternoon, another feature score for Chasethecloudsaway at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Chris Petrelli-trained distaffer has had the winning way over the past couple of seasons and continued her dominance during Monday’s matinee. Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach) was the public’s 1-5 betting favorite when she took back to last in a featured field that had just five participants following a late scratch in the race. Driver Luke Hanners sat patiently in the early going before making his move past the 5/8 pole with the five year old winning machine in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Chasethecloudsaway picked off horses one by one before ranging up to prevail in 1:55.2 to move her record in the 2022 campaign to three-for-three. Owned by David Del Pozzo of Metheun, MA, Chasethecloudsaway now owns nineteen wins in 31 starts in ’21-’22. Robyn Camden (Billy Dobson) finished second in the Open while longshot Treasurethosechips (Leon Bailey) earned the show spot. The chalky exacta paid $5.60 in the feature while the triple came back $35.20. The strong start to the season continues for young reinsman Luke Hanners who piled up four victories on Monday’s card including his third consecutive while sitting behind star pacing mare Chasethecloudsaway.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Squee Hanover finished as the runner-up for Trotter of the Year honors at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2021 and the Andy Gardner trainee continued his breakout campaign on Monday afternoon. Finishing second in the voting to Cash Me Out, Squee Hanover is enjoying his career year and won the Open Trot for the seventh time of the season on Monday. Billy Dobson has been piloting the five year old for the last few months and finished first or second with him in every start but one dating back to the summertime. Drawing the outside post on Monday, Squee Hanover wound up starting from post five after a scratch and got away last of them all. The race’s favorite Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) worked hard in the early stages and though he got the lead he wanted, it took fractions of 27.1 and 56.4 in lap one for him. Squee Hanover revved up the engine and took his shot at the leader heading to three quarters. Those two squared off in a heavy duty duel before Squee got the best of Big Box in the battle of the Hanovers. Squee Hanover stopped the timer in 1:55.3 to register his seventh Open victory and thirteenth win for the season overall. Big Box Hanover had to settle for second while Gigfy (Alek Chartrand) earned the show spot. Squee Hanover, who is owned by Exceed Stables of Lamar, PA, paid $4.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $8.70 and $12.60, respectively, in the five-horse feature.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a first post time set for noon. There is a Pick Five carryover of $3,680. The Pick Five begins in the first race on the matinee card.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser