Saratoga Springs, NY — Miss Irish Rose A sprang a 16-1 upset in Thursday’s (Feb. 20) featured $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Miss Irish Rose A vaulted from the pocket to upset in Thursday’s featured distaff pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

Miss Irish Rose A sat the two-hole to Yonkers invader Sandy’s Beach (Billy Dobson), who made an early beeline to the lead. Favorite The Charging Moa N (Jay Randall) was last of the five pacing mares when she made her move approaching the three-quarter pole, but her chase proved futile. Miss Irish Rose A popped the pocket on Sandy’s Beach around the final turn and rallied to win in 1:54.3. Sandy’s Beach held second, while Bye Bye Felicia (Mark Beckwith) gained late to finish third.

Miss Irish Rose A, a daughter of McArdle, paid $34.60 in her upset win and led an exacta that returned $93.50.

The win was one of two on the day for owner-driver Larry Stalbaum and trainer Tracy Tarantino, as their Gina Grace N made good at 1-5 to record her first victory of the season. Miss Irish Rose A joins stablemate Crockets Cullen N as Tarantino trainees to win an Open during the first week of the 2020 campaign at the Spa.

Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23), with a matinee beginning at 12 noon.