by Michael Costanzo, simulcast manager, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — The 5-year-old trotting mare Ackbro Ms Perfect visited the winner’s circle for the third time in her last four starts on Friday (May 23) when taking the featured $12,000 Open II Trot at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in 1:59.1, although it took a tight three-horse win photo to determine the winner.

Dave Oxford photo

Ackbro Ms Perfect charges past Bit O Victory to take the $12,000 Open II Trot in 1:59.1.

Driven from post three by conditioner Scott Mongeon, Ackbro Ms Perfect found an early spot along the pylons in third place as Bit O Victory (Nicholas Andreoli) was guided aggressively from the rail to carve out early fractions of :30.1 and 1:01.

As the field made their third turn of the mile, the pocket-sitting Onomatopoeia (Brian Allen) was rough gaited and went off-stride, allowing Ackbro Ms Perfect to inherit the second place slot, where the mare tracked Bit O Victory intently through a three-quarter split in 1:29.4.

Bit O Victory entered the lane with a two length advantage, but was quickly engaged by Ackbro Ms Perfect, who drifted out to the center of the track before gathering momentum and sprinting determinedly to the wire, besting Bit O Victory and a fast-closing Bubba Dunn (Mark Beckwith) by a head.

Ackbro Ms Perfect returned $11.40, $5.20, and $2.60 for the victory. Bit O Victory paid $3.90 and $2.20 for second, while Bubba Dunn brought in $2.80 for third.

Owned by Daniel and Steven Ackerknecht, Ackbro Ms Perfect has gotten her picture taken in three of seven starts this year, including two straight, and boasts a lifetime record of 20 wins from 66 outings. The mare is a homebred daughter of Credit Winner, out of the H H Killington mare Lady Lindy.