Saratoga Springs, NY — For the second consecutive week, Birch Island Betty ($11.80) swooped to victory in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel, posting a 1:54.1 win in Tuesday afternoon’s (Sept. 22) $8,500 feature.

The 5-year-old daughter of Big Jim was assigned the outside post in the field of seven, and driver Mitch Cushing settled her at the back of the pack behind sizzling fractions of :26.2 and :55.2. At that point, the backfield was in motion as both last week’s Open runner-up Come Get The Cash (John MacDonald) and Birch Island Betty joined the outer flow and began to thrive past three-quarters in 1:24.2. Come Get The Cash struck the lead in the stretch, but Birch Island Betty kept surging before prevailing in a photo finish. Come Get The Cash was second in the Open for the second consecutive week, and Bontz N (Billy Dobson) rounded out the triple.

Eve Bergeron trains Birch Island Betty, a winner in five of 15 seasonal tries, for Dany Grenier of Québec.

Trainer Brandy Wine and driver John MacDonald teamed up for three wins on the Tuesday card.

Live racing at Saratoga resumes next Monday (Sept. 28), with first post set for 12 noon.