Velocity Vespa (I Scoot Hanover) scored impressively in Friday’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The six year old mare was claimed last week by trainer Rich Banca and debuted in the $15,000 local Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night. Velocity Vespa sped out to the lead in a sizzling opening quarter paced in 26.1 and didn’t back things down much cruising through a first half in 55.1. Rival Bazooka Terror (Billy Dobson) moved first over on the leader at the half and those two squared off throughout the final lap before Velocity Vespa hit the wire first in 1:52.1. Bazooka Terror battled gamely to be the runner up in the Friday feature while the race’s favorite So Nice (Mark Beckwith) had to settle for minor spoils finishing third. Velocity Vespa, who was piloted on Friday night by Jimmy Devaux, won for the twelfth time this year following a campaign in 2015 in which she scored eleven victories. The winner returned $7.10 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $53 and $185, respectively.
Live racing continues on Saturday night with a first post time of 7:05pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
