Huntressville returns a deserved winner

Huntressville A (Huntsville) made her harness racing return a winning one on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The Rob Harmon trainee has split her time between Tioga Down and Saratoga this season but following a victory in early June took a three month break. The five year old mare had two winning qualifiers as preps for her return which came on Monday in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Phil Fluet got the driving assignment and sat behind Huntressville A who drew post position one for her return effort.

Dismissed at odds of 10-1, Huntressville A got away mid-pack in a feature that saw demanding fractions set as the distaffers went through a first quarter of 27.1 before heading past the half in 55.3.

Huntressville A was first-over but began to thrive as the leader began to tire past three quarters in 1:25.1. As the Harmon trainee was clearing the lead at the top of the stretch, a host of challengers began to swarm in for what would become a finish that saw seven mares separated by a total of three lengths at the wire.

When the dust settled, it was Huntressville A who emerged victorious to record her first ever Open victory in a mile clocked in 1:55.3.

HUNTRESSVILLE REPLAY

Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) continued her incredible stretch of finishing first or second every week since the beginning of summer when she closed from post eight to be the runner-up to Huntressville A while the favorite Racin Hungry (Wally Hennessey) earned the show spot. Huntressville A paid $23.80 to win to upset in the feature.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway