Little Santamonica up to the task at Saratoga
March 11, 2016,by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Saratoga Springs, NY — Little Santamonica (Little Steven) was up to the task Friday (March 11) night as she held off the favorite in the stretch to win the $12,000 feature for fillies and mares at Saratoga.
Melissa Simser-Iovino photo
Friday’s $12,000 feature for fillies and mares at Saratoga went to Little Santamonica.
The Jordan Hope-trained distaffer powered out to the early lead in the 1-1/16 mile Winners Over and was forced to park-out last week’s feature winner before being met with the challenge of the favored Bye Bye Michelle (Mark Beckwith). The 8-year-old veteran, who always races well at Saratoga, turned back the favorite to prevail in 2:00 in the lengthened distance race. Bye Bye Michelle had to settle for second while Deliciouslynaughty (Stephane Bouchard) came on to finish third.
Little Santamonica paid $10.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $41.60 and $143.50, respectively. Jimmy Devaux piloted Little Santamonica to her third win of the year after a 2015 campaign in which she scored ten victories. Frank Coppola Jr. drove four winners on the Friday card.