Truth And Liberty (Total Truth) prevailed in her first start in the local Open for Fillies and Mares on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Bob Lounsbury-trained mare moved first over on the race’s 1-9 betting favorite Velocity Vespa (Jim Devaux) approaching the half mile pole and ground the leader into submission before hitting the wire first in 1:53. Piloted in the $16,000 feature by Bruce Aldrich Jr, Truth And Liberty recorded her ninth win in 32 seasonal tries and did so at odds of 15-1. Velocity Vespa had to settle for second place after prevailing in five of her previous six tries in the local Open for distaffers while Bye Bye Michelle (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Returning $33 to win in the upset score, Truth and Liberty led an exacta and triple that paid $90.50 and $491.50, respectively.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
