On Friday night, Velocity Vespa (I Scoot Hanover) did what Velocity Vespa does. The six year old standout scored a front-running win in the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Rich Banca trainee loves the lead and driver Jimmy Devaux worked hard to get her there on a rainy night in the Spa City. Velocity Vespa was parked out early before Devaux went pedal to the metal going to the quarter before the distaffer cleared the lead in a 27.2 opening panel. So Nice (Mark Beckwith) has been getting pocket rides behind Velocity Vespa seemingly for months and once again got the two hole trip in Friday’s feature. After a breather in the second quarter, the race’s 3-2 betting favorite was put to the test and fought gamely before hanging on to win by the slimmest of margins in 1:54.3. Truth And Liberty (Stephane Bouchard) flew home and came up just shy of the victory as the runner up while So Nice earned the show spot. For Velocity Vespa, it was her incredible 18th win in 28 seasonal tries. The exacta and triple paid pretty well considering it was just a six horse field as the exotics returned $23.60 (exacta) and $41.40 (triple). Velocity Vespa is well on her way to being named Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year at Saratoga as the winning machine has now tallied six victories in the local Open despite not making her seasonal debut until July.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino