The Stunning Nun N (Bettor’s Delight) emerged victorious in what was an extremely competitive stretch-drive in Tuesday’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Kevin Reynolds Jr. trains the eight year old mare who drew post three in what wound up being a six-horse Fillies and Mares Open following a scratch. The Stunning Nun N got a cover trip from driver Luke Hanners as they followed up the first-over race’s favorite.

The field bunched up turning for home and a scramble in the stretch then ensued. The Stunning Nun N took over the lead in the final strides and held off a late charge from rival Demeter N (Matt Athearn) who motored home before coming up just a nose shy of the victory. Rocknroll Shelli (Leon Bailey) finished third in the blanket finish that saw all six distaffers in with a chance late in the mile. The Stunning Nun N moved over the $200,000 mark in career earnings from what was her victory in Tuesday’s $17,000 Open. She paid $12.40 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $61.50 and $166, respectively. The winner is owned in partnership by Deters, Manning, Warner and Jensen.

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

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser

Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, New York

Surreal Feeling (So Surreal) continued a super stretch for her connections on Tuesday afternoon as the five year old distaffer prevailed in the Fillies and Mares Open. Owners Chris and Dale Lawton won last week’s Open with their star sophomore Racine Bell. Dave Dewhurst trains that filly who had another terrific season in the New York Sire Stakes this summer before winning her first local Open last Tuesday (Oct 20). This week, the Lawtons’ Lindas In Heaven (Rock N Roll Heaven) won his fourth consecutive race at Saratoga. The young pacer went coast-to-coast with reinsman Jimmy Devaux in the sulky on Tuesday to complete a grand slam for the three year old colt.

In the afternoon’s $9,350 feature, Surreal Feeling went wire-to-wire with Devaux in the bike. The five year old was coming off a qualifier in which she won by fifteen lengths. Surreal Feeling, who won her first local Open last July, registered her second local score in decisive fashion stopping the timer in 1:54.3. The mare finished second or third in her three previous tries in the Open contested this summer before heading to race at Yonkers for a month. On Tuesday, the mare proved dominant in recording her fourth victory in eleven seasonal starts. Birch Island Betty (Mitch Cushing) closed to be second while Bontz N (Billy Dobson) lengthened her “on the board streak” when she came on to be third, finishing “in the money” for the sixth consecutive start. Surreal Feeling paid $9.20 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that came back $43.80 and $223, respectively. Dale Lawton trains both Surreal Feeling and Lindas In Heaven who were two of Devaux’s four winners on the Tuesday card.

Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post set for Noon.