Truth And Liberty (Total Truth) made her return to the Fillies and Mares Open a winning one on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Bob Lounsbury trainee prevailed in the local Open a year ago nearly to the day. After the five year old mare scored a wire-to-wire victory last Friday night while competing in a condition race at the Spa, it was back into the $18,000 feature this week. Driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. moved the classy distaffer first over approaching the half to come after the front-running Yonkers invader Dewar N Soda (Jim Devaux). Despite setting fast first half fractions of 27 and 55.3, Dewar N Soda proved to be game and seemingly fended off Truth And Liberty around the final turn. That was before the late resurgence from Truth And Liberty who found a second wind and came on in the final strides to win a photo with Dewar N Soda in a mile clocked in 1:53.2. Dewar N Soda was second best in her local debut while longshot Beyonces Rockn (Shawn Gray) earned the show spot. A winner at odds of 7-2, Truth And Liberty led an exacta and triple that paid $67.50 and $800, respectively. Truth And Liberty, whose Friday victory was her ninth of the year, won her first local Open on October 7th of last year.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
