Always Watching added another win to her growing tally on Monday (Oct. 2) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel, winning the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Owner, trainer and driver Jordan Derue and the daughter of Hes Watching recorded her sixth victory of the year and set a new seasonal mark of 1:52.4.
Derue was aggressive in the early going with the 11-1 longshot, who cruised through a first half in :55.4 before being confronted by odds-on favourite Racine Bell (Jim Devaux), who took to the first-over path in pursuit of Always Watching. However, it was the Derue trainee who dug in and fended off late bids by both Racine Bell and pocket-sitter Alittlesidehustl N (Brett Beckwith) en route to becoming the winningest mare in the Fillies and Mares Open this season at the Spa.
Always Watching paid $24.80 in the upset. Alittlesidehustl N finished second to complete a $273 exacta while Racine Bell completed a $777 triple.
Live racing resumes on Saturday (Oct. 7) evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)