Truth And Liberty made her return to the Fillies and Mares Open a winning one on Friday night (October 13) 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 Total Truth 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 7 of last year. She is owned by Tracy Moss of New York City.
Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)