Saratoga Springs, NY — Three $10,000 first-leg divisions of the Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series for pacing fillies and mares headlined Thursday’s (April 18) matinee card at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Chase You posted a 1:57.1 win in her Virginia O’Brien Memorial division on Thursday at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

A winner of three of her four starts in 2019 heading into Thursday’s first leg, Chase You has been a dominant force on the engine thus far this season. Bet down as the 2-5 public choice, Chase You made the lead once again with Brett Crawford in the sulky. While the favorite certainly didn’t prove dominant, she had enough to get the job done and record her fourth win in five seasonal tries, stopping the timer in 1:57.1. Though her effort couldn’t be deemed dazzling, the daughter of American Ideal did enough to perhaps still be considered the favorite in the series.

Qing Qong Bluechip (Brian Cross) set a lifetime mark of 1:56.3 in her O’Brien division, the fastest of the three. The Henry Westbrook III trainee took advantage of a late break by her race’s favorite and took over the lead in the stretch, one that she would not relinquish. Delightful Trysta and trainer-driver Phil Fluet scored in the final division, rallying in the stretch to prevail in a career-best 1:58.3.

Both Qing Qong Bluechip and Delightful Trysta paid $11.60 to win in their mild upsets.

Next Thursday’s card will feature leg two of the O’Brien Memorial Pace, with a $30,000 final scheduled for the following week.

Live racing resumes at Saratoga on Saturday night (April 20) with a 6:45 p.m. first post.