Rocknroll Shelli and driver Jimmy Devaux won the Tuesday, March 26 feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel, a $15,541 fillies and mares conditioned-optional claiming pace.
Rocknroll Shelli wound up inheriting the rail in the feature race following a scratch of the morning line favourite, Storybook Bella. Rocknroll Shelli had been winless on the season in seven starts heading into Tuesday’s tilt but did have a trio of second-place finishes to her credit when she stepped up in company. Devaux powered the 9-2 shot away from the gate and secured the lead travelling unopposed in a first half that went in :58.2. Longshot Truly (Billy Dobson) went first-over on the leader and those two battled throughout the second half of the mile before Rocknroll Shelli stopped the timer in 1:55.1 for her first win of the season. Truly, who was dismissed at odds of 19-1, came up second-best while P L Princess C (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot.
Rocknroll Shelli paid $11.40 in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $119.50 and $550, respectively.
The six-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Shell I Attack mare is owned by Chris Lawton and her trainer Dale Lawton, both of New York. She now has a dozen wins and just shy of $145,000 banked lifetime.
The feature win was part of a driving grand slam for Devaux on Tuesday. The veteran reinsman, who has won three consecutive driving titles heading into the 2024 campaign, also piloted pacing mares Flames Of Fire, Hey Hey Dbay and Dancethebigdance N to victories on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)