by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga

Saratoga, NY — Quick Draft A (Art Major) prevailed in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel on a beautiful Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23) in the Spa City. The Australian-bred mare was making her local debut and just her third start in the U.S. and went off as the co-favorite at even money in the $12,000 feature.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Quick Draft A captures the Thursday feature for pacing mares at Saratoga.

Driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. moved her aggressively to the lead and the 7-year-old distaffer clicked off an opening quarter-mile of a sizzling :26.4.

Quick Draft A continued to pace quickly through the middle half and after checking in at three quarters in 1:24, had enough left to secure a length victory over Annabeth (Mark Beckwith).

The track’s defending Pacing Mare of the Year So Nice (Billy Dobson) was co-favored with the winner but had to settle for third in her return to the Spa. T

The win time of 1:53 easily served as a new lifetime mark for Quick Draft A who is owned by the Blindswitch Racing Stable and trained by Al Annunziata.

Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26) with a matinee set to kick off at 12:15 p.m.