Demeter N making mark early at Saratoga

Demeter N (Art Major) went coast-to-coast to score her first harness racing victory in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday afternoon (Jul. 11).

Larry Stalbaum trains and drives the seven year old distaffer after acquiring her last month.

In Monday’s $16,000 feature, Demeter N powered out to the early lead as the race’s 4-5 betting favorite. Demeter N paced a leisurely first half of 58 seconds and then had plenty left to hold off a mild threat from pocket-sitting Shallow (Brian Cross) in the stretch. Last week’s Open winner Birch Island Betty had the daunting task of coming from last in a back-half that went in 55.4 before having to settle for third.

Demeter’s 1:53.4 win time matched the seasonal-best clocking she set in April at Yonkers Raceway. The exacta with Shallow second paid $15.40 while the triple completed by Birch Island Betty returned $47.20. Demeter N is owned by the Shark Racing Stable of Bainbridge, NY.

Live racing resumes on Friday evening starting at 6:45pm as the summer portion of the racing schedule gets underway. That schedule consists of Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening racing with first posts set for 6:45pm each night.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway